Multiple-panel diagram of star allignment and lensing: A foreground star and planet drift in front of a more distant background star; the foreground system magnifies the light of the background star via gravitational lensing, as does the planet; the angular separtion between the stars grows more offset as the foreground star drifts by; Hubble observations taken after the lensing event distinguishes the offset between the two stars and observes an elongated, blended image of the stars. These observations and others taken by Keck show the star positions on the sky are separating at a rate predicted by the planetary light-curve model and determine mass and distance to the foreground star and planet.

Hubble Confirms New Expolanet

This diagram shows how astronomers observed a distant gas giant planet around OGLE-2005-BLG-169 using microlensing.

Credits: Hubble/STScI
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Image CreditHubble/STScI
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