Hey everyone, thanks much for the C&C. These seem to be the main criticisms (feel free to add more):

• Relief/Bump is too high
  
• Gradient between colors is too low
  
• Less colorful
  
• Skins too bright
  
• Not enough detail
  

The last one really confused me, to me they seem super-detailed. I can pick out little hills and features in very small locations. What kind of detail do you think needs to be added?

As Frazzle pointed out, it really depends on whether you want realistic or game-style planets - I was definitely aiming for the latter. But if people want realistic planets instead, who am I to argue? I just figure if I'm going to play a space game and discover new planets, they can at least be intriguing planets that make me wish I could actually visit them and explore.

I tried making a planet taking your suggestions into consideration:


Any better?