Quote - Adjust your lighting to suit before rendering.

Can you clarify on this, or give suggestions? .... currently I am just using the default distant light.

Quote - Higher quality  planet images abound--did you use the biggest of the Earth maps that come with Carrara?
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/solar_system
Brian

Although there were lots of pics, I had trouble actually finding the appropriate planetary surface maps in this collection. Any other leads ?