20100220

Astronomy current events question: Pluto color changes

Astronomy 210L, Spring Semester 2010
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, "New Face of Pluto," February 4, 2010
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/83606532.html
Recent images from the Hubble Space Telescope show that Pluto:
(A) has undergone rapid color changes on its surface.
(B) is much too small to reconsidered as a planet.
(C) has melted its polar ice caps.
(D) experienced a total solar eclipse from one of its moons, Charon.
(E) is spinning much faster than previously measured.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 51 students
(B) : 4 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 4 students

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