It is an amazing time we live in where these observations and discoveries are being made so quickly and relatively frequently. It's really quite amazing.
I'm fairly sure there's been a few direct imaged exoplanets now, am I wrong? I think this was the first (again, could be wrong):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomalhaut_b
I remember when I first heard of one being imaged directly I hapenned to talk to my uncle a day later who is also interested in astronomy and we were both astonished at how such an event had hapenned now, not in another 10-20 years. Sure you look at the methods they're using now in hind sight and go "well yeah, I guess all it takes is money and time" but still, not something I expected for a few more years yet.
The next "wow" will be when they esolve detail on the planets, where the planets are more than say 10 pixels across. That will be astonishing.
Roger.
PS. prob should have this in the science sub-forum.