20160513

Astronomy current events question: "Manx" comet C/2014 S3

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!)
Karen Meech and Roy Gal, "Back from the Deep Freeze: A Piece of the Early Solar System Returns" (April 29, 2016)
ifa.hawaii.edu/info/press-releases/manx_comets/
Based on analysis of its spectrum and its lack of tail, comet C/2014 S3 may be a long-frozen remnant of material from:
(A) a nearby supernova remnant.
(B) the sun's red dwarf companion.
(C) Saturn's rings.
(D) the early inner solar system.
(E) solar wind filaments.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Section 30680
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 7 students
(E) : 1 student

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