hubble snaps an extrasolar planet

at JPL:

the first ever visible light picture of a planet outside our solar system!



its name is fomalhaut b -- an exoplanet -- you know, the kind carl sagan's fellows will be studying!

and, as an added spectacular bonus, here's a picture of a solar system at HR 8799:



and to think that not so long ago we just suspected they were out there. now we can actually see them... with eyes... and with the help of a few gadgets like hubble.

if you want to read more, go to JPL. plus, a very enthusiastic phil plait giddily describes this historic achievement.

click any pic to its source.