20091205

Astronomy current events question: LCROSS debris analyzed

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)
Kelly Beatty, "LCROSS Impact Kicked up Lunar Water," November 13, 2009
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/69991547.html
Data analyzed from the NASA Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) has determined that debris from an empty Centaur rocket booster that impacted the Moon contains:
(A) water vapor.
(B) dark matter.
(C) radioactive fallout from a thermonuclear detonation.
(D) organic compounds.
(E) carbon nanotubes.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 43 students
(B) : 1 students
(C) : 1 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 3 students

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