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N E A R   Q U I Z

Before answering these questions you will probably want
to read one or more of these information sources:
1. Who discovered asteroid 433 Eros, and when?
A Scott Murchie, MSI Instrument Scientist, 1995
B Galileo, 1584
C Witt and Charlois, 1898
2. How many scientific instruments are onboard the NEAR spacecraft?
A Video camera, VCR, and Microwave oven
B 5: See the full list
C None because the spacecraft will crash into Eros
3. Of what use is the Magnetometer?
A To magnetically attract (or repel) the asteroid's metallic surface
B To navigate around the asteroid's North pole
C To search for a magnetic field about the asteroid
4. Where are most known asteroids located in our solar system?
A Between the orbits of Venus and Mars
B Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
C Randomly scattered throughout space
5. The inner planets, including Earth, were formed from other material. What are these "building blocks" called?
A Planetesimals
B Platelets
C Earth, air, fire, and water
6. How large is asteroid 433 Eros?
A About twice the size of Earth
B 22 x 9 x 8 miles
C 35 x 15 x 13 kilometers
7. True or False: some Near-Earth Asteroids are extinct comets.
A True
B False
C We don't know yet; the NEAR mission and other science projects will give us some clues.
8. How big is the NEAR spacecraft?
A 805 kilograms (1700 lb)
B It's size decreases as it flies further away from Earth
C 6.02x10-23 grams
9. When, if ever, will 433 Eros impact the Earth?
A It already has, ending the Age of Dinosaurs
B Eros may evolve into an Earth-crossing orbit within a few million years
C Never.
10. How does the Laser Rangefinder measure the distance from spacecraft to asteroid?
A It measures how long it takes to burn a hole 1" deep in the asteroid surface
B Laser pulses push the asteroid until it is exatly 50 kilometers away
C It transmits a brief laser pulse, and the instrument measures the time for the light to reach the asteroid and return. When the asteroid is 50 km away, light requires 334 millionths of a second to make the round trip.

   

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Last Update: 22 Jan 2001

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