Michael James Gaffey

Questions drawn from Michael James Gaffey's archived record and the sources above.

1. 1.On what date was Michael James Gaffey born?

   • A.December 1, 1946
   • B.January 1, 1945
   • C.November 1, 1946
   • D.December 1, 1945correct

   Michael James Gaffey was born on December 1, 1945.

   Source: Life and career section

2. 2.What was the primary scientific focus of Michael James Gaffey's research?

   • A.Mineralogies of asteroids from reflectance spectracorrect
   • B.Geological mapping of oceanic ridges
   • C.Martian atmospheric density
   • D.Lunar surface cratering patterns

   Michael James Gaffey specialized in deriving the mineralogies of asteroids from their reflectance spectra.

   Source: Introductory paragraph

3. 3.Where did Michael James Gaffey earn his PhD in 1974?

   • A.University of Iowa
   • B.Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
   • C.University of Hawaiʻi
   • D.Massachusetts Institute of Technologycorrect

   Michael James Gaffey received his PhD in planetary science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1974.

   Source: Life and career section

4. 4.From which institution did Michael James Gaffey receive his bachelor's degree?

   • A.University of Iowacorrect
   • B.Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
   • C.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
   • D.University of North Dakota

   Michael James Gaffey received his bachelor's and master's degrees in geology from the University of Iowa.

   Source: Life and career section

5. 5.How long did Michael James Gaffey work as a researcher at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics?

   • A.1979 to 1984correct
   • B.1984 to 2001
   • C.1974 to 1977
   • D.1977 to 1979

   Michael James Gaffey worked at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics from 1979 to 1984.

   Source: Life and career section

6. 6.In what department did Michael James Gaffey teach while at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

   • A.Space Studies department
   • B.Geology departmentcorrect
   • C.Physics department
   • D.Astronomy department

   Michael James Gaffey taught in the geology department of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1984 to 2001.

   Source: Life and career section

7. 7.At which institution was Michael James Gaffey a professor in the Space Studies department?

   • A.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
   • B.University of Iowa
   • C.Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
   • D.University of North Dakotacorrect

   Michael James Gaffey was latterly a professor at the University of North Dakota in the Space Studies department.

   Source: Life and career section

8. 8.In what year did Michael James Gaffey receive the Leonard Medal?

   • A.2006correct
   • B.1990
   • C.2001
   • D.1974

   In 2006 Michael James Gaffey received the Leonard Medal from the Meteoritical Society.

   Source: Honors section

9. 9.Which organization awarded Michael James Gaffey the G. K. Gilbert Award in 2006?

   • A.Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
   • B.Meteoritical Society
   • C.Planetary Science division of the Geological Society of Americacorrect
   • D.Space Studies department of the University of North Dakota

   Michael James Gaffey received the G. K. Gilbert Award from the Planetary Science division of the Geological Society of America.

   Source: Honors section

10. 10.What is the numerical designation of the asteroid named in honor of Michael James Gaffey?

    • A.2026
    • B.1945
    • C.1974
    • D.3545correct

    Asteroid 3545 Gaffey is named in honor of Michael James Gaffey.

    Source: Honors section

11. 11.When did Michael James Gaffey pass away?

    • A.September 20, 2006
    • B.December 1, 1945
    • C.September 20, 2026correct
    • D.December 1, 2026

    Michael James Gaffey died on September 20, 2026.

    Source: Life and career section

12. 12.How old was Michael James Gaffey when he died?

    • A.80correct
    • B.82
    • C.75
    • D.78

    Michael James Gaffey died on September 20, 2026, at the age of 80.

    Source: Life and career section

13. 13.Where did Michael James Gaffey work as a researcher between 1977 and 1979?

    • A.Institute for Astronomy of the University of Hawaiʻicorrect
    • B.Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    • C.University of Iowa
    • D.University of North Dakota

    Michael James Gaffey worked as a researcher at the Institute for Astronomy of the University of Hawaiʻi from 1977 to 1979.

    Source: Life and career section

14. 14.What was the field of study for Michael James Gaffey's PhD?

    • A.Geology
    • B.Geophysics
    • C.Planetary sciencecorrect
    • D.Astronomy

    Michael James Gaffey received his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in planetary science.

    Source: Life and career section

15. 15.Which institution awarded Michael James Gaffey the Leonard Medal?

    • A.Meteoritical Societycorrect
    • B.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • C.Geological Society of America
    • D.University of North Dakota

    In 2006 Michael James Gaffey received the Leonard Medal from the Meteoritical Society.

    Source: Honors section

16. 16.Where was Michael James Gaffey a Post-doc between 1974 and 1977?

    • A.Space Studies department at the University of North Dakota
    • B.Institute for Astronomy of the University of Hawaiʻi
    • C.Hawaii Institute of Geophysics
    • D.Planetary Astronomy Laboratory at MITcorrect

    Michael James Gaffey worked as a Post-doc in the Planetary Astronomy Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1974 to 1977.

    Source: Life and career section