First observations from SEPIA: New APEX instrument for finding water in the universe

Installed on APEX earlier this year, SEPIA is sensitive to light with wavelengths in the range 1.4-1.8 millimetres. The exceptional observing conditions on the extremely dry Chajnantor Plateau in northern Chile mean that, although this light is blocked by water vapour in the atmosphere at most places on Earth, SEPIA is still able to detect the faint signals coming from space.