Astronomy current events question: predicted explosion of KIC 9832227

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2017
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!)

Samantha Mathewson, "Star Explosion Expected to Create Spectacular Light Show in 2022" (January 11, 2017)
space.com/35290-star-explosion-expected-earth-sky-2022.html

Two stars in the KIC 9832227 binary system are expected to merge and be visible as an explosion in Earth's sky between 2021 and 2023, based on analysis of their:
(A) orbital periods.
(B) dark matter content.
(C) gravitational waves.
(D) core temperatures.
(E) neutrino emissions.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 30679, 30680
(A) : 24 students
(B) : 4 students
(C) : 6 students
(D) : 6 students
(E) : 0 students