For me, the splash screen is the first and the more accessible description of what the program is or in what intention Celestia is designed. A common user has to feel that without to custom all program and knowing how to do, hasn't he?
As I say before, was a quick example but I like it too!
Surely a good shot!
I don't really understand why a version more cleared is a really problem? If we accept the idea that every stable version (like 1.5.0 and their optimizations like 1.5.1) should have a new splash each time, why building versions and their reference are not written and highlighted in red for example?Or a greyscale splash?. It avoids to redesign splash screen every time...
To my opinion a program such as celestia, paradoxaly mustn't look like a program : when we use it, we have to feel that, to forget this is a program!
The current splash screen designed for 1.5.0 was good but (this is only my opinion) :
- it feels old due to probably the font
- it feels impressive at the beginning, but after severals times, it feels boring due to the fact the image has not a lot details to discover at each time : the splash has only three big balls and that all !
- it seems that the splash forgets the space itself and focuses only on 3D objets and planets : where are stars and their light on a dark background : a dark illuminated background with stars feels good ; Is Celestia afraid of showing its capabilities to simulate dark skies? It seems that darkness image returns more difficulties to be read but it facilitates multiple interpretations and so dreams.
- I know that a splash has to show the name of its program, but for an astronomy program which don't want to be a useful tool and rather a view, a travel into space, Celestia masks all the image. What i like in last ElChristou's splash is the fact that the name is not very large and stays visible without masking the image.
, yet just put the words "Splash Screen" in the heading and look what happens. 
