For the first time, NASA's Spitzer Telescope has observed light coming from planets outside our solar system. With this data, the molecular make-up of the planets' atmospheres can be determined. An artist conception (left) shows one of the exoplanets-- a Jupiter-sized body that is hot, dry, & cloudy, and orbits near a fiery star (view an animation(1)). For more, visit Red Orbit(2) and the Spitzer Telescope site(3).

1. http://www.nasa.gov/mov/169848main_B_AnimationOfPlanet_final_Web.mov
2. http://www.redorbit.com/news/display/?id=849255
3. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitzer/main/index.html