20110522

Astronomy current events question: asteroid 2005 YU55

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!)
Don Yeomans, Lance Benner and Jon Giorgini, "Asteroid 2005 YU55 to Approach Earth on November 8, 2011," March 10, 2011
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news171.html
When asteroid 2005 YU55 makes it closest approach to Earth this November, it will:
(A) cause higher than normal tides.
(B) disrupt GPS and cell phone communications.
(C) be visible in the sky later that evening.
(D) transit across the face of the moon.
(E) have developed a long, bright tail.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 30682
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 4 students
(C) : 11 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 2 students

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