Astronomy current events question: HD 219134b transit

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2015
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!)

Christine Pulliam, "Cassiopeia's Hidden Gem: The Closest Rocky, Transiting Planet" (July 30, 2015)
www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/2015-16

The Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) discovered the closest known rocky planet HD 219134b when the planet:
(A) emitted gamma rays.
(B) reflected microwaves.
(C) passed in front of its star.
(D) gravitationally pulls on its star.
(E) vaporized in a supernova explosion.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 4 students
(C) : 23 students
(D) : 7 student
(E) : 0 students