It would be a lot easier if we knew where to look first. If we knew there was a planet orbiting the star, say via the "transit method", then we could focus our telescopes on that position. But at present we have only orbital information for gas giant planets. I vaguely recall an image already taken in fact, due to the fact that the dwarf star it orbits is very dim.

The fact that we may be able to use the transit method to detect planets (Kepler mission) means it may be the key to imaging them as well. The planet blocks sunlight as it passes in front. Maybe we can use that effect to create images? What if sunlight refracts through its atmosphere for example? What if we can obtain "slivers" of the planet's surface at its edges, map them onto a spherical shell, and add more "slivers" to the shell as the planet rotates?

How do we find out the rotation rate of the planet? Dunno.

Opinions?