20120507

Astronomy current events question: 2012 annular solar ecipse

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2012
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!)
Kelly Beatty, "May 20th's Annular Eclipse of the Sun," March 1, 2012
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/A-Preview-of-May-20ths-Annular-Eclipse-141037803.html
Southwest Oregon, northern California, and central Nevada will observe an eclipse on May 20 that is annular because:
(A) it occurs on the same date every twenty years.
(B) the moon is too small to completely cover the sun.
(C) it will be visible for nearly the entire day.
(D) this type of eclipse cannot be directly observed with the naked eye.
(E) it is only visible just before sunrise, or just after sunset.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 7 students
(B) : 25 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 1 student

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