Tried building a cold and harsh environment with as little effort as possible.
Used Gimp to make it appear darker.
This is the outcome:
(http://tg2.c-tron.nl/signed/Chiel_010512_Desolate_1920x1080_dark_s.jpg)
Not so dark version:
(http://tg2.c-tron.nl/signed/Chiel_010512_Desolate_1920x1080_medium_s.jpg)
The not so dark version seems to have better lighting. The color of the nearby planet seems to affect the landscape.
The 'color' effect is created by the slight reflection of the surface-shader. Its a modified snowshader created by DandelO.