Astronomy current events question: water ice on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko surface

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2016
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!)

Gianrico Filacchione, Fabrizio Capaccioni, Matt Taylor, and Markus Bauer


, "Exposed Ice on Rosetta's Comet Confirmed as Water" (January 31, 2016)
blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2016/01/13/exposed-ice-on-rosettas-comet-confirmed-as-water/

Data from the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft reveals that comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko has traces of __________ mixed in its topmost layers.
(A) fluorescent compounds.
(B) radioactive isotopes.
(C) water ice.
(D) nanoparticles.
(E) volcanic lava.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 36 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 1 student