Astronomy current events question: observing asteroid 2005 YU55

Astronomy 210L, fall 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!)

D. C. Agle, "NASA in Final Preparations for Nov. 8 Asteroid Flyby," October 26, 2011
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/asteroids/news/yu55-20111025.html

NASA scientists are planning to use __________ to analyze physical properties of asteroid 2005 YU55 as it passes near Earth.
(A) naked-eye observations from the International Space Station.
(B) old Apollo mission equipment on the moon.
(C) radio waves from Earth-based antennae.
(D) GPS satellite tracking.
(E) a solar-sail spacecraft flyby.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 35 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 12 students