17 'facts' about space and Earth that you thought were true - but have been debunked by science

Whenever someone asks me about outer space, I get animated.

No surprise there: I've made a living speaking to experts and writing about the topic for more than a decade, and have read obsessively on these topics for much longer than that.

I've heard a lot of peculiar "facts" over the years - and even believed and shared a few myself - that I eventually learned were totally false.

Below are some of the most common myths, misconceptions, and inaccuracies I've encountered that should be thrown into a black hole.