Incredible    

I might enter this weeks contest myself so maybe I shouldn't help you? LOL. Those stars could probably stand out a bit more to give them a little life (if you can do it without making them the focus of the pic), minor suggestion for sure. Try using some blue is the stars and galaxy spiral. Also, earth has an atmosphere, when you look at earth from space it has a "glow" because you can see the atmosphere, you might consider adding that. You gave the earth a shadowed side but no real "highlight". I would think the side closest to the sun would be a lot brighter.

Yeah, Atlas be needin' he chitlens!

I find this funny. The concept I mean. Not sure if it's supposed to be serious or not, but the ominous skull and hand gripping the entire earth in it's clammy skeletal hand just seems like satire. But, this is a useless point, so . . .

As far as improving it, like you mention, your AA is suffering quite badly. Your use of AA is random, or perhaps you didn't have time. If you were so inclined, you could go back after the contest and touch up.

And somehow I doubt the challenge issuer considered a skeleton hand.

that's a really skinny version of Atlas! ... jk, nice job!