We briefly review recent advances in the observation and study of planetary bodies in extra-solar systems. We summarize in particular the main physical properties of the β-Pictoris dust disk, and the status of new disk observations. Theoretical implications of infalling discrete bodies are considered, in particular, the existence of possible perturbing planet(s) causing this influx. Such planets could spectacularly disturb circumstellar dust disks, thus revealing themselves in spite of their intrinsic faintness as mere point sources. Finally, we describe the recent possible discovery of at least two planets around a pulsar. This underlines the potential existence of planets in rather exotic circumstances.
Structuring the HD 141569 A circumstellar dust disk