20110228

Astronomy current events question: asteroid 2011 CQ1

Astronomy 210L, Spring Semester 2011
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!)
John Matson, "Record-Setting 'Near Miss" of Earth Dramatically Shifted Tiny Asteroid's Orbit," February 10, 2011
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=record-setting-near-miss-of-earth-d-2011-02-10
The tiny 1-m size asteroid 2011 CQ1 passed by Earth earlier this month, and:
(A) its orbit around the sun shifted from outside Earth's to inside Earth's.
(B) was photographed by astronauts as it flew by International Space Station.
(C) will collide with the moon on its next nearest approach in 2014.
(D) briefly interrupted cell/wireless communications in Egypt.
(E) was captured by Earth's gravity, becoming its second "moon."

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 34 students
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 2 students

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