Astronomy current events question: cosmic pinwheel

Astronomy 210L, Fall 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, "A Ghostly Cosmic Pinwheel," September 9, 2010
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/102593154.html

The Hubble Space Telescope image of IRAS 23166+1655 resembles a "cosmic pinwheel," apparently created by:
(A) a star falling into a black hole.
(B) a telescope mirror defect.
(C) a dying star with a binary companion.
(D) colliding galaxies.
(E) planetary formation.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 49 students
(D) : 4 students
(E) : 10 students