Planet!!!!

Here is my first planet i ever created hopefully you guys like it. C&C pleas..

Planet!!!!

UPDATED VERSION (doens't fixed the edges yet, but i'm going to bed right now!! :P )
UPDATED VERSION!!


Also thanks for the comments, its my first so it can't be great ;)

i like the outer glow but wtf is with that texture?

What size did you make the planet at , te texture seems huge. I mean.. how many features are there that stick out THAT much. ( I mean the lines are massive, on the texture map ) Also, when you do a shadow, make the shadow size Bigger then the planet, THEN fit it into the corner or w/e, it'll make the lightsource look more realistic. Try to add a glow instead of making your texture bigger then the actual planet, it just looks kinda messy on the edges. And as for realism.. then it kinda doesn't work....

Basically
-Use photographs and blend them to get more realistic textures
-Work at a stupidely high resolution, so the details you add look realistic and small
-Work ALOT on the colouring, use tiny brushes, colour tiny areas completely different shades. And mess around with layer settings etc.
-Make the shadow bigger then the planet, then move it around. And then cut off the excess.

I can't think of anything else atm... listening to Dj yoda =)

Updated version online, LOOK RIGHT NOW!! :P

Looks a lot better in general, but you still need to work on adding depth, and making it look real. Alot better though :) Planets generally won't be THAT colourful either, and if they have got natural shizzle tizzle on maybe add some clouds =)

But still, improving :)

i like it, but the background is so empty :(