Posted: Tue, Oct 10, 2006, 8:26 AM ET (1226 GMT)
Observations by the Hubble Space Telescope have confirmed the presence of a Jupiter-sized extrasolar planet orbiting a nearby star and have linked it to a dust disk also surrounding the star. University of Texas astronomers used Hubble to measure slight wobbles in the position of the star Epsilon Eridani, only 10.5 light-years from the Earth. The observations confirm earlier studies that found that a planet 1.5 times the mass of Jupiter orbits the star once every 6.9 years. The planet's orbit is inclined at a 30-degree angle as seen from Earth, the same inclination as a previously-observed dust dusk surrounding the star. Epsilon Eridani is the first star where astronomers have detected both a planet and a dust disk, "compelling evidence" for widely-held models of planet formation. While Hubble did not directly observe the exoplanet, it could be observed by Hubble and large groundbased telescopes in late 2007, when it makes is closest approach to the star in its orbit.

Related Links:

•  SPACE.com article
•  Space Telescope Science Institute press release
•  McDonald Observatory press release