This is phenomenal. Great work and I'd love to see more planet wallpapers come of this.

That's awesome! It looks so realistic - keep up the great work! :)

how did u do this in cs3?

I had never used Photoshop before so this was more of a learning project than anything. I used these tutorials to learn the process, but all of the image work is my own.

The planet tutorial - http://www.deviantart.com/view/3131869/
The starfield tutorial - http://www.webdesign.org/web/photoshop/tutorials/make-a-realistic-star-field.3811.html

Hope this helps any aspiring photoshopers out there! Enjoy!

looks very nice, good job for somebody just getting into Photoshop.
but here's a few tips. The starfield is too dense, giving it a backdrop type of feel, especially since right where the planet is, it looks like it's casting a shadow on the background... even though that wasn't intentional.
Also, as the tutorial states, you should have reduced the shadow layer's opacity a little bit on the planet to expose some more detail and made it look a bit more natural. right now it's too.... dark.
other than that, it's a nice piece of work

I agree on all accounts. The starfield was just too dense because I was lazy, and the planet was all black because I couldn't figure out how to erase the atmosphere layer so that the outer glow did not look really funny underneath the shadow. Like I said, this was my first shot, so hopefully I will learn how to use the various tools in Photoshop a little better. If anyone knows what I mean about the outer glow, and knows how to fix it, please let me know!

Very nice. :) Currently using it. Considering you made it with Photoshop it's very impressive.

Actually, I disagree that the black makes it look unrealistic. If the planet were experiencing a lunar eclipse, that's exactly what it would look like, assuming the sun in that system were at a specific location.

Since the planet's atmosphere would dilute a fair majority of the light being sent from the other angles, the parts of the planet that were being affected by the eclipse woud most certainly be reduced to what the locals would see as pitch black night.

Also, I find the background to be quite fitting. A wallpapers doesn't have to be scientifically accurate on all accounts to be an amazing pieces of art.

To the author, you've accomplished in your first days with Photoshop a great piece of art that I find to be of higher quality than some pieces of work I've seen done by people that have been using Photoshop for years. I commend you and I'm eagerly awaiting more work for you. Thanks!

Personally, it is nice, I am using it now.

Thanks a lot !!

pluto right? pluto isn't a planet....sorry.

well it WAS a planet. and i'd still like to think it is a planet in our solar system. but it's not.

:(

Good Job for your "first real attempt".

This loooks so real its as if its a real planet.