TIDBITS® PONDERS SPACE
by Janet Spencer
Come along with Tidbits as we ponder the wonders of space!
GALAXIES & STARS
• It’s estimated the Milky Way galaxy has between 200 and 400 billion stars. There may be 2 billion earth-type planets orbiting those stars capable of sustaining life.
• In the observable universe, astronomers estimate there are at least 2 trillion galaxies.
• If Earth were shrunk to the size of an ice cube, it would equal the density of a black hole. If the Sun were condensed into the density of a black hole, its diameter of 865,000 miles (1,392,000 km) would be shrunk to just 1.8 miles (3 km) wide.
• The Sun does not have the mass necessary to become a black hole. A star needs to be about 20 times bigger than the Sun to become a black hole. Instead, our Sun will become a red giant when its fuel is expended.
• In space, there’s no sound because there is no atmosphere to carry sound waves.
• The average temperature in the void of space is about -518°F (−270.45°C).
• The space between galaxies is not completely empty but averages one atom per cubic meter. (cont)
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PLANETS & MOONS
• Of the 9,113 official geographical features on the Moon, just over 95% are craters, and just under 5% are other features consisting mainly of mountains and valleys.
• Neptune has 16 moons. The largest of them, Titan, is half again as big as our Moon, and is the 2nd biggest moon in the solar system after Jupiter’s Ganymede. Titan's atmosphere is made of nitrogen and methane. The surface has mountains, dunes, rivers, deltas, lakes and seas of liquid methane and ethane. There are distinct seasons. It’s more similar to Earth than anything else in our solar system.
• Which planet is the coldest? That would be Uranus, the 7th planet, an ice giant. Although Neptune, also an ice giant, is the 8th planet and even farther from the Sun, Neptune has more methane in its atmosphere than Uranus does. Methane keeps the heat in. The coldest temperature ever recorded on Uranus was −371.56°F (−224.2°C).
• Which is the hottest planet? Venus is the hottest because its atmosphere is composed of about 96% carbon dioxide and 3.5% nitrogen, which creates a strong greenhouse effect. Temperatures reach 863°F (462°C). Venus is also closer to the Sun.
• Venus is the second brightest object in the night sky. The Moon is the only thing that's brighter.
• Atmospheric pressure on Venus is 92 times greater than Earth’s. For a human standing on the surface of Venus, the pressure would equal standing near the bottom of the ocean.
• It takes 243 Earth days for Venus to spin on its axis just once to complete a single day, yet it takes only 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun completely. This means a year on Venus is shorter than a day. (cont)
When you find him, please send us a message with your name, POSTAL MAIL address, the issue number you are referring to and which ad is hosting Tommy for the week! Visit www.tidbitsmov.com or send the answer with the above information to alan@tidbitsmov.com OR you may send us a private message to our Facebook page - @Tidbits MOV. PLEASE do not post the answer directly to the page - that ruins the fun for everyone. All winners will be drawn randomly from correct responses and will be posted weekly. As with all our contests, you are welcome to play every week, you are only eligible for one winner per household per month.
Carol V From Mineral Wells Found Tommy In Issue 1299
SPACE FACTS (cont)
• Which planet has the shortest day? Gas giant Jupiter’s day is 9 hours and 55 minutes, yet its year lasts 11.8 Earth years.
• Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and is the 5th planet from the Sun. It is 2.5 times more massive than all the other planets in the solar system combined. Because it is made primarily of gases it is known as a “gas giant”.
• The Great Red Spot is a storm that has been raging continuously since it was first spotted in 1831. No one knows what makes Jupiter’s Great Red Spot red.
• Jupiter’s atmosphere is the solar system’s largest planetary atmosphere. It is composed of hydrogen (90%) and helium (10%), in roughly the same proportions found in the Sun
• Olympus Mons, a volcano on Mars, stands 13.2 miles (21.2 km) high. That’s nearly three times taller than Mount Everest, Earth’s highest peak. It’s the biggest volcano in the solar system.
EARTH FACTS
• If you could sort all the elements on Earth into piles of material, you’d get 32.1% iron 30.1% oxygen, 15.1% silicon, and 13.9% magnesium. Together those four elements comprise 91.2% of the Earth’s makeup. The other 8.8% is made of the other 114 elements
• Most of Earth’s iron is located in its molten core, which is why the planet has a magnetic field. The center of the Earth is 88% iron.
• 47% of the Earth’s crust consists of oxygen, mostly combined with other elements.
• Earth doesn’t take 24 hours to rotate on its axis. It’s actually 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds. (cont)
SPACECRAFT
• The Russians were the first to launch a spacecraft, Sputnik, in 1957. The U.S. was the second country with the Explorer I in 1958. Who was third? Canada with Alouette 1 in 1962. “Alouette” is French for “lark.”
• The International Space Station sees 15 sunsets and 15 sunrises every 24 hours as it orbits the planet. It takes about 90 minutes to orbit the planet once, traveling at the rate of 17,500 mph (28,163 km/h).
• It cost more to make the movie “Gravity” starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, than India spent on its Mars space orbiter Mangalyaan, with the movie’s budget running $100 million and the space orbiter costing only $75 million. The movie was released on August 28, 2013. The Mangalyaan was launched on November 5, 2013, and the mission successfully entered Mars orbit on September 24, 2014.
• India was the 4th nation to reach Mars orbit after the U.S., the USSR, and China. The name Mangalyaan is Sanskrit meaning “Mars Craft.” It was India’s first interplanetary expedition. It took 298 days to travel from Earth to Mars after spending a month orbiting Earth. It remained in Mars orbit for over seven years before communications died and could not be revived.
• Spacecraft have visited all the planets in our solar system.
• The dividing line between the end of Earth’s atmosphere and the beginning of space is not a clear demarcation, but is generally considered to be 60 miles (100 km) above sea level. The division is called the Kármán line after the Hungarian aerospace engineer who calculated the height at which airplanes would be unable to fly and spacecraft would be required.
Celebrate Summer in Style with Classic Crab Imperial
Summer is nearly here, and with it, all the special occasions that call for something a little extra (without totally breaking the bank!). Whether it's a backyard birthday, a beachside bridal shower or just Tuesday on the patio with friends and chilled wine, sometimes you want to serve something that says this moment matters.
Introducing Crab Imperial a dish so luxurious it practically wears pearls. Born in the coastal kitchens of Maryland in the late 1800s, Crab Imperial is one of the East Coast's most elegant ways to showcase its prized blue crab. This isn't a crab cake. This is tender, sweet crab meat folded into a creamy, savory sauce, tucked into ramekins, topped with a golden breadcrumb crown and baked until bubbly. It's rich, delicate and timeless.
A Few Words About Krab
Now, let's address the crustacean in the room. Real crab can be pricey, and you might be tempted to substitute imitation crab aka krab with a "k." I get it! I use it in plenty of recipes myself. But not here. This dish is a treat, and you deserve the real thing. That said, this recipe is a clever way to stretch a pound of crab meat to feed up to eight people. If you need to extend it further, add another egg yolk and a half cup of extra breadcrumbs to bulk it out without sacrificing flavor. And if you do buy imitation crab for other recipes, look for versions made from wild-caught Alaskan pollock it's the most sustaina-
ble option.
CRAB IMPERIAL
Yield: 8 appetizer servings
Total Time: 30 minutes
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning + more for garnish
1 teaspoon Italian parsley, finely minced
1 large egg lightly beaten 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 pound (16 ounces) jumbo lump crab meat
1 teaspoon butter, melted 1 tablespoon panko breadcrumb Lemon wedges, toast points, sliced baguette or crackers for serving
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a mixing bowl, stir mayonnaise, egg, sugar, Old Bay, lemon juice and parsley together, and blend well. Gently fold crab meat into the sauce, being careful not to break up crab meat any more than absolutely necessary. Divide portions among the baking dishes of your choice, using ramekins or small casserole dishes. You can make four 6-ounce (practically a meal) servings or eight 3-ounce appetizer servings.
In a small bowl mix the melted butter with the breadcrumbs. Sprinkle this lightly over each portion, then top the crab imperial with a dash of Old Bay. Bake in 350 F oven for 20 minutes as the tops turn golden brown, or until a thermometer gets an internal reading of 165 degrees to be sure the egg in this recipe is fully cooked.
Optional but highly recommended: Pour a glass of something cold and celebratory. Sparkling wine pairs beautifully, but honestly, even lemonade feels festive
with a bite of this indulgent delight. While Crab Imperial is often served as a luxe appetizer, it can also be the star of a special-occasion meal. Try spooning it over grilled chicken breast or steak for a showstopping entree, or use it as a filling for mushrooms. Serve it alongside a crisp green salad, seasonal grilled vegetables or a chilled asparagus platter for an elegant summer supper. For brunch, pair smaller portions with poached eggs and toasted English muffins essentially a Maryland-style Benedict. And don't forget the drinks: Champagne or a buttery chardonnay is classic, but a dry rosé or citrusy mocktail would be just as lovely. ***
Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the pennypinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Crab Imperial is rich, golden, and surprisingly easy to make at home. PHOTO CREDIT: www.JasonCoblentz.com
Why don’t astronauts get hungry after being blasted into space?
Because they’ve just had a big launch!
HENSLER’S HENSLER’S
TOWN & COUNTRY TOWN & COUNTRY MARKET MARKET 1090
Sports Stories THE 5th DOWN FIASCO
• One of the most memorable blunders in college football history was caused by not just a single referee but by the entire officiating crew who simultaneouslymessed up together
• It was October 6, 1990 and the Colorado Buffaloes were up against the Missouri Tigers in a Big Eight game in front of 46,856 fans.
• In football, a team is allowed four plays called downs to move the ball ten yards toward their goal line. If they are successful, they are awarded four more tries. If, after four attempts, the team has not scored or gained ten yards, the other team gets the ball. No team is allowed five attempts. In this game, Colorado was given a 5th consecutive down.
• With less than 3 minutes to go, Colorado took possession of the ball on their own 3yard line. Colorado was trailing Missouri 31 –27.
• On the 1st down, Colorado’s Johnson spiked the ball to stop the clock. On the next play, with the down marker accurately indicating 2nd down, Eric Bieniemy rushed the line but was stopped just short of the goal line. Just then, several things happened.
• Colorado called its 3rd and final timeout. Referee J. C. Louderback went to discuss whether or not they still had a time-out left, and an argument ensued until it was determined that they were allowed a last time-out. This distracted Louderback.
• Just at that moment, a fan in the stands had a heart attack. The people holding the down marker chain were preoccupied with the EMTs giving CPR to the fallen fan, who unfortunately succumbed.
• Because of these distractions, the down marker was never flipped to indicate it was now the 3rd down. (Continued page #7)
THE 5th DOWN FIASCO
(cont)
• For the 3rd down, now marked as the 2nd down, Bieniemy made another run but was stopped just short of the goal line. Thinking it was now the 3rd down, Johnson spiked the ball to stop the clock with two seconds left in the game. Had he known it was actually the 4th down, he never would have done that.
• On the next play, supposedly the 4th down, but actually the 5th, Johnson appeared to cross the goal line to score the game-winning goal. It was hard to see if the ball really crossed the line due to the pile-up. Regardless, Colorado fans swarmed the field in victory
• Finally, Louderback and his officiating crew realized their mistake, and conferred to decide their course of action. Radio and TV announcers noticed that Colorado had scored with the help of an extra play. After a long consultation, officials announced the decision: the touchdown counted, giving Colorado a 33–31 lead. Colorado was awarded the standard extra point, which they flubbed.
• Colorado football coach Bill McCartney did little to soothe the controversy and refused, when asked, to forfeit the game.
• Missouri appealed to the Big Eight, arguing that since the game-winning touchdown had come on a play that should have never been run, Missouri should be declared the winner 31–27. The commissioner rebuffed the plea, saying it was “not a correctable error.” Colorado’s win would stand. The only fallout was that Louderback and his officiating crew were suspended for a week.
• Colorado won the championship that year, though their win was under a cloud, and the history books have an asterisk next to the score. Meanwhile, Missouri ended the season with a record of 4-7.
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Remembering the sacrifices of war dogs
DEAR PAW'S CORNER:
This Memorial Day, I hope you can call attention to the sacrifices made by war dogs, who have served side by side with American troops for over 100 years, taking on missions that their human counterparts could never do so well. Many gave their lives protecting others. Charles B., via email DEAR CHARLES: Absolutely. Military working dogs, often called "war dogs," are an essential part of America's armed forces. They provide security around the world and are trained for specialized missions like drugs and explosives detection, sentry duty, scouting, and search and rescue. Military working dogs are even part of special forces units. Over the past century, war dogs have played essential roles.
In the past, German Shepherds were the primary breed used as military working dogs. Recently, the armed services have shifted to slightly smaller breeds. The Belgian Malinois is the preferred breed for military working dogs today.
Sadly, during the Vietnam War, thousands of military working dogs overseas were euthanized or abandoned when their service was done. In 2000, President Clinton signed a law that allowed war dogs to be adopted once their service was over.
More than 400 military working dogs have been killed in action since World War II. It's estimated that they have saved over 10,000 lives. Today, a War Dog memorial stands in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, to call attention to these selfless heroes, as well as a War Dog statue outside the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
As we remember the sacrifices of American troops this Memorial Day, I hope you'll all take a moment to remember the loyal, highly trained working dogs who gave their all to keep their comrades in arms safe from harm.
Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
* Going to the beach for your vacation? Here's a handy hint to take great care of your swimsuit. They get more expensive all the time! Pack at least two suits and bring a box of baking soda. Soak suit for 15 minutes in a baking soda and water solution, then lay flat on a towel. Roll the towel up and wring lightly. Unroll and hang to dry. Rotate suits.
* Fill a 2-liter soda bottle with water, then plunge the top into a potted plant for selfwatering while you are on vacation. Use smaller bottles for smaller pots.
* "This should be a life tip. Feel comfortable in your party clothes. You will be more confident and be a better conversationalist than if you are uncomfortable in very high heels or a too-tight dress. Let your inner light shine! It took me 60 years of uncomfortable clothes for this grandma to figure it out." F.L. in Oregon
* Use your Christmas light timers to set
different lights to go on or off at certain times of the day while you are away on vacation. You can even use a timer on a radio, so it comes on sometimes too. The variation will make people think you are home.
* "If you read lots of online reviews before cementing your travel plans, make sure you read them with a critical eye. Some read like an advertisement for or against. Try to see if you can get recommendations from your friends and family too. Most of all, enjoy your time." N.F. in Maryland
* Always have a couple bottles of water and a roll of duct tape in your trunk. You never know when you will need these items, and they seem to be pretty handy when traveling by car.
Send your tips to Now Here's a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
