V838 Monocerotis and Light Echoes Quiz

What was the initial thought about the expanding brightness around V838 Monocerotis?

• It was a light echo.

• It was a gas cloud moving at high speeds.

• It was a new star forming.

• It was a black hole.

How is a light echo similar to a sound echo?

• Both involve the direct transmission of waves.

• Both involve waves bouncing off surfaces and reaching the observer later.

• Both are caused by gravitational forces.

• Both are visible phenomena.

What does the light echo from V838 Monocerotis help us visualize?

• The material around the central star.

• The formation of new stars.

• The distance to the star.

• The speed of light.

What is one theory about the source of the material around V838 Monocerotis?

• A nearby black hole.

• A star engulfing a giant planet.

• A supernova explosion.

• A comet passing by.

What is still unknown about the explosive event around V838 Monocerotis?

• The exact distance of the star.

• The mass of the interloper that caused the event.

• The color of the light echo.

• The age of the star.