An astronomer has captured the first direct image of a planet forming around a star.

The Institute for Astronomy said Adam Kraus used Keck telescopes on Mauna Kea to find the planet.

The University of Hawaii astronomer was working with Michael Ireland from Macquarie University and the Australian Astronomical Observatory.

LkCa 15 b is 450 light years away from earth and is being built by dust and gas. It is the youngest planet ever found.

Mr Kraus presented the discovery at Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland.

Scientists had not been able to see such young planets before because they are so close to stars that the stars’ light outshines them.

Mr Kraus and Mr Ireland used mirrors to cancel out the starlight and were able to see dust near the planet.