Using two linked telescopes that act as a single, high-powered lens, scientists have observed a young star thought to be more like our own solar system than similar celestial bodies observed in the past.

　　The star, known as DG Tau, is surrounded by a swirling disk of particles like those be-lieved to be the source of planets, scientists said on Tuesday.

　　Observations of DG Tau are scheduled to appear in an upcoming issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

　　Since 1995, astronomers have detected more than 100 extra-solar planets, many considered too large and close to their bright, hot parent stars to sustain life, said Rachel Akeson, an astronomer at the California Institute of Technology and leader of the study team.

　　"This here (DG Tau) is an object that in all likelihood is going to end up one day as a star similar to our own sun."

　　The observations are the first published findings resulting from the use of the linked 10-meter telescopes at the W.M. Keck Observatory atop Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii.

　　The telescopes, known as the Keck Interferometer, form the equivalent of an 83.7-meter telescope and com-prise the world's largest optical telescope system.

　　The mission is part of NASA's Origins Program and looks for smaller, Earth-like planets that may harbor life.