Question
In 2020, researchers claimed the detection of phosphines in this planet’s atmosphere, a possible indicator that it may harbor life. For 10 points each:
[10e] Name this planet which was previously thought to be incapable of supporting life due to its dense atmosphere of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, and its surface temperatures of over 900 degrees Fahrenheit.
ANSWER: Venus
[10h] This observatory placed an upper limit on the Venus phosphines at 0.8 parts per billion, opening up the possibilities of supporting lives there. Unlike the ballon-borne BOOMERanG ("boomerang"), this observatory is housed in a Boeing 747.
ANSWER: SOFIA [accept but do NOT reveal Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy]
[10m] SOFIA observes in this part of the spectrum, which was also covered by the Spitzer and Herschel space telescopes prior to the launch of JWST.
ANSWER: infrared [or IR; accept answers with “near,” “far,” or “mid” preceding either IR or Infrared]
<James Lasker, Other Science>
Summary
| 2023 Penn Bowl @ Waterloo | 10/28/2023 | Y | 4 | 17.50 | 100% | 75% | 0% |
| 2023 Penn Bowl @ FSU | 10/28/2023 | Y | 2 | 10.00 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
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| 2023 Penn Bowl (Norcal) | 10/28/2023 | Y | 1 | 20.00 | 100% | 100% | 0% |
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| 2023 Penn Bowl (UK) | 10/28/2023 | Y | 5 | 18.00 | 100% | 80% | 0% |