The purple planet looks flat to me. How are you generating it? If you want to make sure that you get the sphere look accurate I'd suggest using a 3D modeling program like Bryce or 3D studio to render a nice sphere with correct lighting and the surface texture already applied. Then import it into the scene.

I really like what you're doing with this idea. Keep it up.

Yes, I also like what you're doing with this idea! The colors here are very nice, the planet does seem a little flat but not too bad, nice work catching the sunset for the original shot. nice work!

I like the colors. Hmmm...maybe something in the upper right hand corner, like a comet or a moon?

I think the planet is a bit "too much" in this colour..maybe a pale yellow or a muted pale blue...etc etc...and the stars are great..but if yu do them, maybe yu ought to think more about the moon with them somehow. I love the fiery orange..so I think the whole thing ought to be a bit more "fiery"...maybe reds?

Hmmm, nice image, I like the whole look and feel of it, but if it were me I think I'd rather see the planet in the background. It might need to be on a slightly smaller scale but that way you could show a fuller view of it, not just partial. It also needs some texture, and as Verena said I believe a fiery orange color would look rather nice. Also, where is the moon in this pic, it needs a moon, if only a small one.

Sounds like everyone has different ideas about this one... I have two suggestions: Firstly, you do need to make the sphere look more 3 dimensional as caedes says, give it more depth. Secondly, the trees in the photograph look rather plain and "every day" in comparison to the exotic scene in the sky. Perhaps a desert or a futuristic looking city would fit in better.

i think it's entirely lovely, great job!

yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I like it a lot and am using it as my background now. Perhaps a very small moon, dime sized on the screen, or two would be in order in the upper right, and more 3-Dness. I disagree on making the whole thing fiery or changing the scenery though. The colors blend from red to purple to blue progressing from the horizon to planet to sky, which I find nice. The scenery gives the sense of familiarity which I think is an essential part of this image.