Astronomy current events question: recovery of 1437 A.D. nova location

Astronomy 210L, fall 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!)

American Museum of Natural History press release, "Scientists Recover Nova First Spotted 600 Years Ago by Korean Astrologers" (August 30, 2017)
amnh.org/about-the-museum/press-center/scientists-recover-nova-first-spotted-600-years-ago

The exact position of a nova explosion that occurred 600 years ago was located by comparing present-day images with:
(A) old photographic plates.
(B) gravitational wave fluctuations.
(C) absorbed ultraviolet light.
(D) computer simulations.
(E) gamma ray emissions.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 21 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 10 students
(D) : 8 students
(E) : 6 students