The smoke in the air from the forest fires is still providing us with some spectacular sunsets. I took a couple of shots tonight with the sun going down over the mountains by West Vancouver, from my balcony in North Vancouver. Love the colours.

And a wider (and a bit brighter shot). You can see Lions Gate Bridge as well.

The news was saying there are 277 wildfires burning in BC at the moment, and there is no sign of rain until at least Thursday of this week. So I imagine we will be seeing these colourful, gorgeous sunsets for a while yet. The moon shows a lovely redish orange cast as well. I will try and get a picture of it as well tonight.

When you're in the market for Solar How information, how do you choose the best sources for building an inexpensive solar power generator? Information on going solar is available via several different venues. The Internet, books and videos can provide valuable information about going solar. How you choose to use the information is entirely at your discretion. Solar power is becoming more widely used as a home power source each year. With today's economic woes, creating an alternative solar power generator for your home could save a lot of money in the long run.

One of the most important questions people ask about solar: How do you know which information to trust? The answer to that question could be much simpler than you think! The "best" information is the information that best applies to your particular project. Information about how to create a mobile solar power generator wouldn't be helpful to people planning to fully implement solar power with their homes.

A personal solar generator for your home, cabin, apartment or RV could be a very valuable asset for people who often experience blackouts or brownouts. Even small power flickers can cause computer users to lose valuable time and information. People who work from home often use an interruptible power system (UPS) to protect their computers from immediately losing power in the event of a power outage. The use of a UPS is very comparable to the use of a Solar backup generator. Freelancers and contractors who travel a lot benefit greatly from small, inexpensive solar power generators.

Solar: How a Small Backup Generator Can Reduce Energy Costs

Small, homemade solar power backup generators can be made for under $400 and reliable for up to five consecutive hours of power. Some avid campers and nature lovers have made it a point to take their laptop and solar power generator on camping or fishing trips. They never have to worry about falling behind on work or the latest news while they're relaxing and enjoying nature.

Installing solar power in your home not only saves a lot of dollars on electricity per year, but your initial investment could also pay for itself within 1-3 years. Solar power also adds to the resale value of your home. Minor improvements to homes often create the biggest buzz and the greatest return on investment when the homeowner considers selling the home. A home that will save the new owner money on the electric bill and help the environment at the same time would be much more attractive to potential home buyers.

Farmers have learned to harness solar power for use on tobacco, wheat, corn and livestock farms. By use of solar powered lighting among other things, farmers have learned to solar power saves time and money. The initial investment is minimal when compared to the costs of setting up a full electrical system for various areas of their farms.

Utilization of solar power for farm use helps the environment just as much as it helps the farmer's bank account. Fossil fuels are used in the process of making solar components, but the products themselves emit no harmful pollutants into the surrounding environment. Informational websites and books can help you determine if solar energy is right for you.

Solar Websites and Books

Solar how to websites are very convenient sources of information. Another great resource for solar know-how is books. Several books from the Evil Genius series, McGraw Hill's DeMystified or even the Dummy series can help even the newest solar rookie understand the basics. When shopping for information or products, it's a great idea to take your reading materials with you. When approached by a store representative, ask specific questions regarding solar how to.

When searching the web for information on how to implement solar power, be very specific with your search words and use quotes where appropriate. Simply searching your favorite search engine for solar generator information will bring up a lot of useless information that doesn't apply to your particular project. Try using quotation marks when searching. Instead of just searching for solar power generator try "solar power generator" to target the phrase or any other phrase you're searching for.

Make the Best of Solar How to Information

Website, books and videos are great sources of information. Each resource can provide information on everything solar. How would you find the best prices for solar? How would you build your own solar generator? Knowledge is a great foundation for any project.

Solar power isn't rocket science, but the more you know, the better the end results will be. Before making the decision to fully integrate solar power, do your research. The more you understand, the more smoothly your project and transition will go. The Internet, videos and books are very valuable resources to help answer those questions and many, many more.

Solar energy consists of the light and heat emitted by the sun, in the form of electromagnetic radiation.

With today's technology, we are able to capture this radiation and turn it into usable forms of solar energy - such as heating or electricity.

Although one could go into technical dissertations on the subject of electromagnetic radiation, how it is converted into solar energy, and the exact qualities of its electromagnetic rays, this is not something the average person needs or wants to know.

But in order to be able to benefit from the use of solar energy, there are a few facts you should know. Knowing these facts can assist you to make sound decisions, when looking at the use of solar power as a clean energy source for your home, RV, or whatever the case may be.

Environmental Facts about Solar Energy

All life on earth is dependent upon solar energy. In fact, without solar energy, there would be no life at all. Even the lowest life forms, such as plankton and microbes, need solar energy (in the form of sunlight) in order to survive.

Solar energy is completely environmental friendly, producing absolutely no carbon emissions or other harmful byproducts whatsoever.

Solar energy can be used successfully and cost-effectively just about anywhere on the planet. You do not need to live in a tropical or desert climate in order to benefit from the use of solar energy. Solar power has been used successfully in many cold climates and even in the polar regions.

Every area of the United States of America receives enough sunlight to benefit from and make use of solar energy and solar technology.

The cheapest and most effective method of utilizing solar energy in your home is currently the use of solar water heating systems. In fact, for over one hundred years, solar water heating systems have been commercially available in the United States.

Solar energy can be used for heating homes effectively in cold climates, as well as in warm climates. In fact, solar heating has been in use many cold-climate northern European countries for several decades now.

Solar energy technology has advanced to the point where it can be now be a viable and cost-effective replacement for regular grid-electricity.

Solar energy is rapidly increasing in popularity - so much so that the demand for solar-powered gadgets is currently greater than the supply.

Facts about Solar Energy Usage

Solar energy can be used to provide electricity, heating and hot water for homes.

Solar energy can also be used to heat swimming pools. In fact, many pools in Scandinavia and Europe are heated with solar energy.

Solar Energy can be used to power vehicles, such as solar powered cars, and even a solar powered airplanes. NASA has successfully designed, built, and tested an airplane which is powered wholly by solar energy.

A few examples are: solar battery chargers, solar radios, solar flashlights, solar calculators, solar-powered attic fans, solar-powered backpacks (which recharge batteries for small devices), hybrid solar chargers (for cell phones, satellite phones, MP3 players, GPS devices, cameras, and more), solar-powered garden lights … and much, much more.

by Anna

For further information and explanations about solar energy and how you can use it to save money and protect the environment, please visit Important Facts about Solar Energy, Solar Battery Chargers, and Solar Power.

I wanted to check out my new BO 91 APO so I grabbed a quick astrophoto of the moon last night.

Details:
Camera: Single shot with a Canon 400d
Scope: Burgess Optics 91mm APO
Mount: William Optics EzTouch on a Manfrotto Tripod