Astronomers are able to detect planets orbiting the lens star if the light from the background star is warped by one or more planets.

BBC: Tiniest extrasolar planet found

The technique employed to find the new planet uses the gravitational field of a star like a lens - magnifying the light from a distant background star.

BBC: Tiniest extrasolar planet found

Microlensing occurs when a massive object in space, like a star, crosses in front of another star shining in the background.

BBC: Artist's concept of a distant world (BBC)

As students and angry mobs took to the streets and soldiers responded with gunfire and tear gas, the five-star general hovered in the background, making few attempts to set things right.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia

As John Rosenthal pointed out this week at The Weekly Standard, Germany's Die Welt ran a frontpage photo that featured a poster of Mubarak with a Star of David across his forehead in the background.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Israel and Arab Democracy

While Anwar's star was rising, Wan Azizah stayed in the background.

CNN: A Woman of Grace

His stance drew attention both because of his military record -- he had served as an officer in the Navy and had been awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple hearts -- and his background.

CNN: Specials

Cameron lurks in the background, leaving the limelight to Apollo 13 star Bill Paxton, who narrates the film.

BBC: Titanic gets 3D treatment

Then, in June 1939, when Superman became the first comic-book character to star in his own self-titled publication, his background was retrofitted to become somewhat closer to the story we know today, in which the toddler of steel was raised by a kindly elderly couple named Kent.

WSJ: The Superhuman Appeal of Superman | By Will Friedwald

Outhwaite, as a character bumped to the background, is possibly trying not to be the obvious star.

BBC: Tamzin can't cap Shackleton