Astronomy current events question: Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer

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!)

Tom Beal, The Arizona Daily Star, "Graham Scope Has Both Eyes Open," October 23, 2010
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/wires?id=151393738&c=y

The Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer uses infrared light combined from two 8.4-meter mirrors in order to detect the presence of:
(A) distant star parallaxes.
(B) Earth-like planets.
(C) previously unseen spiral galaxies.
(D) near-Earth orbit asteroids.
(E) close binary star systems.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 5 students
(B) : 48 students
(C) : 9 students
(D) : 4 students
(E) : 4 students