Huge planet believed orbiting a star outside solar system

Astronomers have evidence that an enormous planet is orbiting a faint star trillions of miles from Earth, a finding that could represent the first planet observed outside the solar system. The researchers said Monday that this is the first claim of a planet orbiting a nearby star that is supported by direct observational evidence and not indirect measurements.

The giant planet is believed to be a huge ball of gases similar to the outer planets of our solar system, but much larger. It is estimated to be 30 to 80 times as large as Jupiter, the biggest planet in our solar system.