An apt comparison. I believe they have actually imaged a few of these, just a spot of light next to a really big spot of light, but most of the extrasolar planets so far have been found by other methods such as a subtle shift in the starlight spectrum or infinitesimal but regular change of light output.
You gotta get with the program. Mr. Spock can glance at his instrument panel and read out the entire contents of a system from several light-years out.