20140418

Astronomy current events question: detecting Enceladus' underground ocean

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2014
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!)
Dwayne Brown, Jane Platt, and Brian Bell, "NASA Space Assets Detect Ocean inside Saturn Moon," April 3, 2014
http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/april/nasa-space-assets-detect-ocean-inside-saturn-moon/
NASA's Deep Space Network observed the Cassini spacecraft __________ to determine that Saturn's moon, Enceladus, has a large underground ocean.
(A) fluctuating in temperature.
(B) passing behind water vapor geysers.
(C) deviating from its flight path.
(D) covered by icy particles.
(E) reflecting laser beams.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 6 students
(B) : 18 students
(C) : 15 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 2 students

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