20131101

Astronomy current events question: red supergiant W26

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2013
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!)
Robert T. Gonzalez, "The Largest Star Ever Discovered Is Tearing Itself Apart," October 17, 2013
http://io9.com/the-largest-star-ever-discovered-is-tearing-itself-apar-1447123770
Red supergiant W26 is dying, according to Royal Astronomical Society researchers observing its:
(A) increase in gravity waves.
(B) approaching black hole.
(C) violent solar flares.
(D) decline in brightness.
(E) surrounding glowing hydrogen cloud.

Correct answer: (E)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 8 students
(E) : 40 students

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