Astronomy current events question: supernova RCW 86

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!)

Whitney Clavin, Trent J. Perrotto, "NASA Telescopes Help Solve Ancient Supernova Mystery," October 24, 2011
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitzer/news/spitzer20111024.html

__________ may provide data to explain how the first supernova recorded in history occurred.
(A) Infrared images from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.
(B) Low-energy cosmic ray sensors in space.
(C) Newly discovered ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
(D) Neutrinos detected in deep underground mines.
(E) A thin iridium-rich sedimentary layer.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 38 students
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 2 students