20181201

Astronomy current events question: reflected sunlight from proposed "fake moon"

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2018
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!)
BBC News"Fake Moon: Could China Really Light Up t, he Night Sky?" (October 20, 2018)
bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-45910479
A private company has recently proposed launching several "huge mirrors" into orbit around Earth in order to:
(A) image exoplanets.
(B) deflect solar flares.
(C) illuminate a city at night.
(D) vaporize incoming asteroids.
(E) power the International Space Station.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 14 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 2 students

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