Astronomy current events question: "The Year of the Solar System"

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!)

Dr. Tony Phillips, "The Year of the Solar System," October 7, 2010
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/07oct_yss/

NASA has announced that October 2010 through August 2012 will be "The Year of the Solar System," when:
(A) the sun lines up with the center of the Milky Way.
(B) planets are nearly aligned in a straight line.
(C) planets have the same configuration as during Galileo's time.
(D) a large number of spacecraft arrive at their destinations.
(E) a different planet is visible almost each and every night.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 48 students
(E) : 4 students