Yes, the mind boggles at the number of ways to achieve one effect.
The pic I did in Lightwave was done with the multiple spheres, that way I could animate a ship flyby, or a space battle and give it a true 3d look to it.
If I was doing a wallpaper image or other static pic, then the process seems much more straightforward.
https://www.darrylworley.com/
https://www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html