First Light on New CCD Camera

(March 2012)

The image of the galaxy M81 above is the “first-light” image taken by the new U42 CCD camera at the UIS Barber Observatory on March 14, 2012. The new camera was purchased to image supernova impostors in distant galaxies as part of a project sponsored by National Science Foundation and private donors. The field of view on the camera is exceptionally large, covering a patch of sky nearly as big across as the full moon.