Astronomy current events question: asteroid 24 Themis

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!)

Astronomy.com editors, "Ice Lurks in Asteroid's Cold Heart," April 29, 2010
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=9811

Observations from the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility have revealed the presence of __________ on asteroid 24 Themis.
(A) radioactive elements.
(B) dark matter.
(C) water ice and carbon-based organic compounds.
(D) fragments of the large impact that created Earth's moon.
(E) solar neutrinos.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 45 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 0 students