Image of the planet HIP 65426b (bottom left), produced with the SPHERE instrument. SPHERE has physically blocked out light from the central star (blocked-out region marked by circle) in order for the planets much weaker light to become detectable. The light received from the planet allows deductions about its properties – in this case the presence of water vapor and reddish clouds. 

An international team of astronomers, using the SPHERE instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope have discovered a planetary mass companion orbiting a nearby star.  Prof. Michael Meyer was a member of the team and comments on the discovery in the associated Press Release.