Thanks the flat-slice-export3 is just about perfect. I'm working with it now. to fill out the 360 degrees of the eliptical shape. Do you know how I'd apply a sort of transparent star/universe texture to it so that you could see the sun (which would be in the center) through the mass of stars surrounding it?

Also, how would I get it so a texture applied would not distort and stretch the dots of stars to stripes?