diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/model/renderablemodel.h b/include/openspace/rendering/model/renderablemodel.h
index 1a3fc0615c..fd6c6149aa 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/model/renderablemodel.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/model/renderablemodel.h
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ public:
     bool initialize() override;
     bool deinitialize() override;
 
+	bool isReady() const override;
+
 	void render(const RenderData& data) override;
     void update(const UpdateData& data) override;
 
diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/planets/renderableplanet.h b/include/openspace/rendering/planets/renderableplanet.h
index 1ccae2a8c2..2ad096fdc2 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/planets/renderableplanet.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/planets/renderableplanet.h
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ public:
 
     bool initialize() override;
     bool deinitialize() override;
+	bool isReady() const override;
 
 	void render(const RenderData& data) override;
     void update(const UpdateData& data) override;
diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/renderable.h b/include/openspace/rendering/renderable.h
index 0860bbbe65..b8144b8aae 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/renderable.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/renderable.h
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ public:
     virtual bool initialize() = 0;
     virtual bool deinitialize() = 0;
 
+	virtual bool isReady() const = 0;
+
     void setBoundingSphere(const PowerScaledScalar& boundingSphere);
     const PowerScaledScalar& getBoundingSphere();
 
diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/renderableephemeris.h b/include/openspace/rendering/renderableephemeris.h
index 59a85322b9..d3cde1477a 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/renderableephemeris.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/renderableephemeris.h
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ public:
 
 	bool initialize() override;
 	bool deinitialize() override;
+	
+	bool isReady() const override;
 
 	void render(const RenderData& data) override;
 	void update(const UpdateData& data) override;
diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/renderablefieldlines.h b/include/openspace/rendering/renderablefieldlines.h
index c0b54c0f16..01322da655 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/renderablefieldlines.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/renderablefieldlines.h
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ public:
 	bool initialize();
 	bool deinitialize();
 
+	bool isReady() const override;
+
 	void render(const RenderData& data) override;
 	void update(const UpdateData& data) override;
 
diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/renderablefov.h b/include/openspace/rendering/renderablefov.h
index c0725a5b94..dc09000e9a 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/renderablefov.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/renderablefov.h
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ public:
 	bool initialize() override;
 	bool deinitialize() override;
 
+	bool isReady() const override;
+
 	void render(const RenderData& data) override;
 	void update(const UpdateData& data) override;
  private:
diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/renderablepath.h b/include/openspace/rendering/renderablepath.h
index 5c2eb1e7f5..3dd6febb53 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/renderablepath.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/renderablepath.h
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ namespace openspace {
 		bool initialize() override;
 		bool deinitialize() override;
 
+		bool isReady() const override;
+
 		void render(const RenderData& data) override;
 		void update(const UpdateData& data) override;
 	private:
diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/renderableplane.h b/include/openspace/rendering/renderableplane.h
index b5f987c881..369cd4e5a3 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/renderableplane.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/renderableplane.h
@@ -47,8 +47,10 @@ public:
 	RenderablePlane(const ghoul::Dictionary& dictionary);
 	~RenderablePlane();
 
-	bool initialize();
-	bool deinitialize();
+	bool initialize() override;
+	bool deinitialize() override;
+
+	bool isReady() const override;
 
 	void render(const RenderData& data) override;
 	void update(const UpdateData& data) override;
diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/renderablesphericalgrid.h b/include/openspace/rendering/renderablesphericalgrid.h
index d2de735960..aa51884dab 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/renderablesphericalgrid.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/renderablesphericalgrid.h
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ public:
 	bool initialize()   override;
 	bool deinitialize() override;
 
+	bool isReady() const override;
+
 	void render(const RenderData& data) override;
 	void update(const UpdateData& data) override;
 private:
diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/renderabletrail.h b/include/openspace/rendering/renderabletrail.h
index d68196db95..aa399d229f 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/renderabletrail.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/renderabletrail.h
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ public:
 	bool initialize() override;
 	bool deinitialize() override;
 
+	bool isReady() const override;
+
 	void render(const RenderData& data) override;
 	void update(const UpdateData& data) override;
  private:
diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/renderablevolumegl.h b/include/openspace/rendering/renderablevolumegl.h
index 82560fe3d8..df7cb2673a 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/renderablevolumegl.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/renderablevolumegl.h
@@ -46,8 +46,10 @@ public:
 	RenderableVolumeGL(const ghoul::Dictionary& dictionary);
 	~RenderableVolumeGL();
     
-	bool initialize();
-    bool deinitialize();
+	bool initialize() override;
+    bool deinitialize() override;
+
+	bool isReady() const override;
 
 	virtual void render(const RenderData& data) override;
 	virtual void update(const UpdateData& data) override;
diff --git a/include/openspace/rendering/stars/renderablestars.h b/include/openspace/rendering/stars/renderablestars.h
index f5c9c50415..0a6e327c51 100644
--- a/include/openspace/rendering/stars/renderablestars.h
+++ b/include/openspace/rendering/stars/renderablestars.h
@@ -39,9 +39,11 @@ public:
 	RenderableStars(const ghoul::Dictionary& dictionary);
 	~RenderableStars();
 
-	bool initialize()   override;
+	bool initialize() override;
 	bool deinitialize() override;
 
+	bool isReady() const override;
+
 	void render(const RenderData& data) override;
 	void update(const UpdateData& data) override;
 
@@ -78,8 +80,6 @@ private:
 	std::vector<float> _fullData;
 	int _nValuesPerStar;
 
-	//GLint vertsToDraw;
-
 	GLuint _vboID;
 	GLuint _vaoID;
 };
diff --git a/shaders/star_fs.glsl b/shaders/star_fs.glsl
index fe5f3f461d..c3b17a6e5a 100644
--- a/shaders/star_fs.glsl
+++ b/shaders/star_fs.glsl
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ void main(void)
 			color = bv2rgb(ge_brightness[0])/1.1;
 			break;
 		case COLOROPTION_VELOCITY:
-			//color = vec4(abs(ge_velocity), 1.0); 
-			color = vec4(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
+			color = vec4(abs(ge_velocity), 0.5); 
+			//color = vec4(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
 			break;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/rendering/model/renderablemodel.cpp b/src/rendering/model/renderablemodel.cpp
index 040145a8e0..c7eea2a351 100644
--- a/src/rendering/model/renderablemodel.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/model/renderablemodel.cpp
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@ RenderableModel::~RenderableModel(){
     deinitialize();
 }
 
+bool RenderableModel::isReady() const {
+	return _programObject != nullptr;
+}
+
 bool RenderableModel::initialize(){
     bool completeSuccess = true;
     if (_programObject == nullptr)
@@ -176,4 +180,5 @@ void RenderableModel::loadTexture()
         }
     }
 }
+
 }  // namespace openspace
diff --git a/src/rendering/planets/renderableplanet.cpp b/src/rendering/planets/renderableplanet.cpp
index 4c21e91c8e..77df66824e 100644
--- a/src/rendering/planets/renderableplanet.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/planets/renderableplanet.cpp
@@ -82,11 +82,9 @@ RenderablePlanet::RenderablePlanet(const ghoul::Dictionary& dictionary)
     _colorTexturePath.onChange(std::bind(&RenderablePlanet::loadTexture, this));
 }
 
-RenderablePlanet::~RenderablePlanet(){
-    deinitialize();
-}
+RenderablePlanet::~RenderablePlanet() {}
 
-bool RenderablePlanet::initialize(){
+bool RenderablePlanet::initialize() {
     bool completeSuccess = true;
     if (_programObject == nullptr)
         completeSuccess
@@ -99,7 +97,7 @@ bool RenderablePlanet::initialize(){
     return completeSuccess;
 }
 
-bool RenderablePlanet::deinitialize(){
+bool RenderablePlanet::deinitialize() {
     _geometry->deinitialize();
     delete _geometry;
     _geometry = nullptr;
@@ -108,6 +106,10 @@ bool RenderablePlanet::deinitialize(){
     return true;
 }
 
+bool RenderablePlanet::isReady() const {
+	return (_geometry != nullptr);
+}
+
 void RenderablePlanet::render(const RenderData& data)
 {
 	if (!_programObject) return;
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderable.cpp b/src/rendering/renderable.cpp
index b767cbd9c7..fac2359542 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderable.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderable.cpp
@@ -118,4 +118,8 @@ bool Renderable::isVisible() const {
 	return _enabled;
 }
 
+bool Renderable::isReady() const {
+	return true;
+}
+
 }  // namespace openspace
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderableephemeris.cpp b/src/rendering/renderableephemeris.cpp
index de330b1b27..b10c2d9f44 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderableephemeris.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderableephemeris.cpp
@@ -128,6 +128,10 @@ RenderableEphemeris::~RenderableEphemeris(){
 	deinitialize();
 }
 
+bool RenderableEphemeris::isReady() const {
+	return _programObject != nullptr;
+}
+
 bool RenderableEphemeris::initialize(){
 	bool completeSuccess = true;
 	if (_programObject == nullptr)
@@ -312,4 +316,5 @@ void RenderableEphemeris::loadTexture()
 	}
 }
 
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderablefieldlines.cpp b/src/rendering/renderablefieldlines.cpp
index d0db9225a4..fb931fddf6 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderablefieldlines.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderablefieldlines.cpp
@@ -124,6 +124,10 @@ RenderableFieldlines::RenderableFieldlines(const ghoul::Dictionary& dictionary)
 RenderableFieldlines::~RenderableFieldlines() {
 }
 
+bool RenderableFieldlines::isReady() const {
+	return _fieldlinesProgram != nullptr;
+}
+
 bool RenderableFieldlines::initialize() {
 	assert(_filenames.size() != 0);
 	assert(_hintsDictionaries.size() != 0);
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderablefov.cpp b/src/rendering/renderablefov.cpp
index a72a51c587..c34181880f 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderablefov.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderablefov.cpp
@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@ RenderableFov::~RenderableFov(){
 	deinitialize();
 }
 
+bool RenderableFov::isReady() const {
+	return _programObject != nullptr;
+}
+
 void RenderableFov::sendToGPU(){
 	// Initialize and upload to graphics card
 	glGenVertexArrays(1, &_vaoID);
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderablepath.cpp b/src/rendering/renderablepath.cpp
index 4e4c822c1a..658c4d61ba 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderablepath.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderablepath.cpp
@@ -139,6 +139,11 @@ RenderablePath::~RenderablePath(){
 	deinitialize();
 }
 
+bool RenderablePath::isReady() const {
+	return _programObject != nullptr;
+}
+
+
 bool RenderablePath::initialize(){
 	bool completeSuccess = true;
 	if (_programObject == nullptr)
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderableplane.cpp b/src/rendering/renderableplane.cpp
index 7bb7a02d6e..9c0e506bda 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderableplane.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderableplane.cpp
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ RenderablePlane::RenderablePlane(const ghoul::Dictionary& dictionary)
 RenderablePlane::~RenderablePlane() {
 }
 
+bool RenderablePlane::isReady() const {
+	return _shader != nullptr;
+}
+
 bool RenderablePlane::initialize() {
 
 	// ============================
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderablesphericalgrid.cpp b/src/rendering/renderablesphericalgrid.cpp
index 1cf8cbbd2f..f2d756fdd2 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderablesphericalgrid.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderablesphericalgrid.cpp
@@ -131,6 +131,10 @@ RenderableSphericalGrid::~RenderableSphericalGrid(){
 	deinitialize();
 }
 
+bool RenderableSphericalGrid::isReady() const {
+	return _gridProgram != nullptr;
+}
+
 bool RenderableSphericalGrid::deinitialize(){
 	return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderabletrail.cpp b/src/rendering/renderabletrail.cpp
index 900c80d11a..d664265530 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderabletrail.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderabletrail.cpp
@@ -151,6 +151,10 @@ RenderableTrail::~RenderableTrail(){
 	deinitialize();
 }
 
+bool RenderableTrail::isReady() const {
+	return _programObject != nullptr;
+}
+
 void RenderableTrail::sendToGPU(){
 	// Initialize and upload to graphics card
 	glGenVertexArrays(1, &_vaoID);
diff --git a/src/rendering/renderablevolumegl.cpp b/src/rendering/renderablevolumegl.cpp
index 65199dceb5..a88b718e36 100644
--- a/src/rendering/renderablevolumegl.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/renderablevolumegl.cpp
@@ -167,6 +167,11 @@ RenderableVolumeGL::~RenderableVolumeGL() {
         delete _transferFunction;
 }
 
+bool RenderableVolumeGL::isReady() const {
+	// @TODO needs a proper isReady definition --abock
+	return true;
+}
+
 bool RenderableVolumeGL::initialize() {
     // TODO: fix volume an transferfunction names
     if(_filename != "") {
diff --git a/src/rendering/stars/renderablestars.cpp b/src/rendering/stars/renderablestars.cpp
index fa5d70150d..497a26c77a 100644
--- a/src/rendering/stars/renderablestars.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/stars/renderablestars.cpp
@@ -101,12 +101,8 @@ RenderableStars::RenderableStars(const ghoul::Dictionary& dictionary)
 RenderableStars::~RenderableStars() {
 }
 
-std::ifstream& skipToLine(std::ifstream& file, unsigned int num){
-	file.seekg(std::ios::beg);
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < num - 1; ++i){
-		file.ignore(std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max(), '\n');
-	}
-	return file;
+bool RenderableStars::isReady() const {
+	return (_haloProgram != nullptr) && (_fullData.size() > 0);
 }
 
 bool RenderableStars::initialize() {
@@ -115,9 +111,9 @@ bool RenderableStars::initialize() {
 
 	// Star program
 	_haloProgram = ghoul::opengl::ProgramObject::Build("Star",
-		"${SHADERS}/star_vs.glsl",
-		"${SHADERS}/star_fs.glsl",
-		"${SHADERS}/star_ge.glsl",
+		"${SHADERS}/modules/stars/star_vs.glsl",
+		"${SHADERS}/modules/stars/star_fs.glsl",
+		"${SHADERS}/modules/stars/star_ge.glsl",
 		[&](ghoul::opengl::ProgramObject*){ _programIsDirty = true;});
 
 	completeSuccess = (_haloProgram != nullptr);
@@ -231,6 +227,7 @@ void RenderableStars::update(const UpdateData& data) {
 			glVertexAttribPointer(brightnessDataAttrib, 3, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, stride, reinterpret_cast<void*>(offsetof(VelocityVBOLayout, bvColor)));
 
 			GLint velocityAttrib = _haloProgram->attributeLocation("in_velocity");
+			glEnableVertexAttribArray(velocityAttrib);
 			glVertexAttribPointer(velocityAttrib, 3, GL_FLOAT, GL_TRUE, stride, reinterpret_cast<void*>(offsetof(VelocityVBOLayout, vx)));
 			
 			break;
diff --git a/src/scenegraph/scenegraph.cpp b/src/scenegraph/scenegraph.cpp
index e9f498e21b..f108e7763f 100644
--- a/src/scenegraph/scenegraph.cpp
+++ b/src/scenegraph/scenegraph.cpp
@@ -193,16 +193,6 @@ bool SceneGraph::initialize()
 	_programs.push_back(tmpProgram);
     OsEng.ref().configurationManager().setValue("RaycastProgram", tmpProgram);
 
-	// Point program
-	tmpProgram = ProgramObject::Build("Point",
-		"${SHADERS}/star_vs.glsl",
-		"${SHADERS}/star_fs.glsl",
-		"${SHADERS}/star_ge.glsl",
-		cb);
-	if (!tmpProgram) return false;
-	_programs.push_back(tmpProgram);
-	OsEng.ref().configurationManager().setValue("PointProgram", tmpProgram);
-
 	// Grid program
 	tmpProgram = ProgramObject::Build("Grid",
 		"${SHADERS}/grid_vs.glsl",
diff --git a/src/scenegraph/scenegraphnode.cpp b/src/scenegraph/scenegraphnode.cpp
index 4b4e3c46bd..2d61eaec50 100644
--- a/src/scenegraph/scenegraphnode.cpp
+++ b/src/scenegraph/scenegraphnode.cpp
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ void SceneGraphNode::update(const UpdateData& data)
 {
 	if (_ephemeris)
 		_ephemeris->update(data);
-	if (_renderable)
+	if (_renderable && _renderable->isReady())
 		_renderable->update(data);
 }
 
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ void SceneGraphNode::render(const RenderData& data)
         return;
     }*/
 
-    if (_renderableVisible && _renderable->isVisible()) {
+    if (_renderableVisible && _renderable->isVisible() && _renderable->isReady()) {
         // LDEBUG("Render");
 		_renderable->render(newData);
     }