I am having difficulty getting the correct effect of the sun rising over the earth in a view from space. I know I have seen something like this somewhere but I can't find any examples. The two versions I have created so far are in the Bryce gallery. It's getting better but I am not there yet.

Obelique_01
http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=137643&Start=1&Sectionid=2&WhatsNew=Yes

Obelique_02
http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=137645&Start=1&Sectionid=2&WhatsNew=Yes

Any hints or things you think I might be doing wrong would be helpfull. I will try to get the bryce file uploaded to yahoo for those who might take it apart and determine the problem.

I will IM you some details!

Well you might consider making the sun larger. The sun after all is many times larger than our earth. You throw in distance and the sun should show along most if not all of the edge of the planet as it rises. The sun is no small body. You could also give the sun some more flare by adding an acctual light. A visible volumetric spot seems to make the most brilliant looking light beems. Could create a cool effect across the edge of the planet. Just some thoughts.

Description of lights in Image. 1 visible volumetric spot 1 visible volumetric abmbient inside a 85% transparent yellow sphere that is .1 larger than the ambient The (actual) sun is positioned at 330 - 25 to shed some light on the planet from an angle. This gives the gradient light effect on the surface. If the sun were positioned behind the planet, I get a black hole. I did try using just the sun as the light source over the planet but it tended to wash out the pic.

It doesn't have the sun in it but Neo1 made a nice one using Terragen: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=57542&Start=1&Sectionid=22&MostWanted=Yes

forget using the bryce sun and look at lights and in particular volume lights.try this one all ye brycers -cloud plane with material of glass --- i'll say no more

You need an atmosphere to difuse the light. Look at Nasa shots of the earth to get the idea. Add an additional larger sphere around the planet.