Monday, August 31, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-30

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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We could not open at all tonight, the weather (rain and humidity) prevented us to do so.

No data obtained tonight.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-29

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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We could only obtain calibration data at the very beginning of the night, and then, weather forced us to close for the whole night.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-28

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others: Kai and Linda for a visit.

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Summary
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A relatively good night. We were closed part of the night because of high humidity, but we could then open around 22:00. Clouds prevented us from observing for the rest of the night, but we could get data for the following programs :

2015-1-SCI-002 P1 HRS (Determining the distances to massive dusty stars that may be emitting microwave lasers)
2015-1-SCI-028 P1 HRS (Looking for evidence of massive white dwarfs in symbiotic novae)
2015-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (Searching the Milky Way for symbiotic stars)
2015-1-SCI-062 P4 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)
2015-1-SCI-059 P4 RSS (Long term monitoring of the SMC LBV S18 and LMC sgB[e] star S134)
2015-1-SCI-027 P4 RSS (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)

Friday, August 28, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-27

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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No observations tonight.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-26

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others: Nimrod on the phone

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Summary
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Weather prevented us to observe for the largest part of the night.
We could obtain data for the following programs:

2015-1-SCI-017 P3 HRS (Observations of evolved massive stars revealed with Spitzer and WISE)
2015-1-SCI-027 P4 RSS (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-25

SA: Petri
SO: Thea
Others: Rajin, Eric, Timmy and Etienne

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Summary
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Quite a frustrating night. Weather was great, clear with good to excellent
seeing. Several technical difficulties were encountered though, so could
observe only part of the night. During those times data were taken for:

2015-1-MLT-002 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-1-SCI-013 P2 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds )
2015-1-SCI-017 P3 HRS (Observations of evolved massive stars revealed with Spitzer and WISE)
2015-1-SCI-016 P3 RSS (RINGS: The RSS Imaging spectroscopy Nearby Galaxy Survey)
2015-1-SCI-036 P3 HRS (Metal abundance of extremely metal poor candidates with high S/N and high resolution spectra.)
2015-1-SCI-017 P3 RSS (Observations of evolved massive stars revealed with Spitzer and WISE)

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-24

SA: Petri
SO: Thea
Others: Rajin

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Summary
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A fabulous clear night with stable 1.5-1.7" seeing, occasionally even better.
No problems either until 4 am, when lost some time to tech issues but could
still continue observing until dawn. Science data gathered for:

2015-1-SCI-063 P0 RSS (SALT follow-up of type Ia supernovae to study their properties at targeted redshifts)
2015-1-SCI-065 P1 RSS (FP Halpha kinematics of RESOLVE galaxies)
2015-1-SCI-013 P1 HRS (x3) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds )
2015-1-SCI-056 P2 RSS (x2) (Watching Pluto for changes in its spectrum as it rotates.)
2015-1-SCI-005 P3 RSS (Time variability of emerging BAL QSOs.)
2015-1-SCI-036 P3 HRS (Metal abundance of extremely metal poor candidates with high S/N and high resolution spectra.)
2015-1-MLT-002 P3 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-1-SCI-017 P3 SCAM (Observations of evolved massive stars revealed with Spitzer and WISE)
2015-1-SCI-046 P3 SCAM (Redshift determination of newly confirmed galaxy clusters)
2015-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (Study of a number of candidate ultracool objects, which should include new brown dwarfs.)

Monday, August 24, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-23

SA: Petri
SO: Thea
Others: Rajin

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Summary
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First part of the night lost to spectacular thunder and lightning. But it then
cleared up and last hours of the night were spent on science, finally.
In fact doubled the number of science blocks taken during our week..
Data for:
2015-1-SCI-013 P1 HRS (x4) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds )
2015-1-SCI-053 P3 RSS (Multi-wavelength classification of unidentified Blazar-like Fermi-2LAC catalogue sources)
2015-1-SCI-017 P3 RSS (Observations of evolved massive stars revealed with Spitzer and WISE)

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-22

SA: Petri
SO: Thea
Others: Rajin

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Summary
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No science observations, could not open due to thick clouds and rain
later. But night full of calibrations for the RSS spectrograph.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-21

SA: Petri
SO: Thea
Others: Rajin, Eric on phone

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Summary
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Most of the night lost to humidity again. But got a few science blocks done
before closing:
2015-1-SCI-018 P2 HRS (Accretion in Young Binary Star Systems)
2015-1-SCI-016 P3 RSS (RINGS: The RSS Imaging spectroscopy Nearby Galaxy Survey)
2015-1-SCI-045 P3 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae)
2015-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (studying candidate ultracool objects, which should include new brown dwarfs.)

Friday, August 21, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-20

SA: Petri
SO: Thea
Others: Rajin

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Summary
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Night lost to high humidity again. Managed just spectroscopic standards
after opening and aligning. No science data taken.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-19

SA: Petri
SO: Thea
Others: Rajin

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Summary
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Nearly the full night lost to high humidity and ridge cloud. Got two
science blocks done right in the beginning, and then the rest of the
night spent on closed-dome calibrations. Data for:

2015-1-SCI-053 P3 RSS (Multi-wavelength classification of unidentified Blazar-like Fermi-2LAC catalogue sources)
2015-1-SCI-012 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-18

SA: Paul
SO: Veronica
Others: Keith, Petri, Rashin

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Summary
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- Attempted one science program before we close due to clouds and high humidity.

- No science data taken.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-17

SA: Paul
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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- A long night at the telescope. We had stable seeing conditions of around 1.5'' even though we had thin cirrus the whole night. Technical issues prevented us from taking full advantage of the weather conditions.

- We obtained data for the following programs:

2015-1-SCI-018 P0 HRS (Accretion in Young Binary Star Systems)
2015-1-SCI-021 P1 RSS (Connecting QSO absorption line systems with the associated galaxies)
2015-1-SCI-041 P1 RSS (Superwinds in luminous starburst galaxies)
2015-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (We aim to study a number of candidate ultracool objects, which should include new brown dwarfs.)

Monday, August 17, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-16

SA: Paul
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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- The night was off to a bumpy start. We had bad seeing and closed just after 23:00 due to high humidity. Opened again around 03:00 to good seeing.

- Managed to get data for the following programs:

2015-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (Searching the Milky Way for symbiotic stars)
2015-1-SCI-018 P2 HRS (Accretion in Young Binary Star Systems)
2015-1-SCI-062 P4 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)
2015-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x3) (We aim to study a number of candidate ultracool objects, which should include new brown dwarfs.)

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-15

SA: Paul
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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- Had a productive evening. The weather was good and the seeing was around 1.5'' for most of the night. Minor tech issues, no show stoppers.

2015-1-SCI-016 P1 RSS (RINGS: The RSS Imaging spectroscopy Nearby Galaxy Survey)
2015-1-SCI-039 P1 RSS (DIBs in emission)
2015-1-DDT-004 P1 SCAM (Chararcterising the optical counterpart to a distance Galactic X-ray binary)
2015-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (Searching the Milky Way for symbiotic stars)
2015-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS (Gas dynamics in NGC300 and NGC4945)
2015-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (We aim to study a number of candidate ultracool objects, which should include new brown dwarfs.)

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-14

SA: Paul
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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- A long and difficult evening. Had some clouds at the start of the evening followed by mediocre to bad seeing and high wind speed. Closed just before due to the wind. Also had a number of technical issues during the evening.

- Managed to get data for the following programs:

2015-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (Searching the Milky Way for symbiotic stars)
2015-1-SCI-017 P3 RSS (Observations of evolved massive stars revealed with Spitzer and WISE)
2015-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x3) (We aim to study a number of candidate ultracool objects, which should include new brown dwarfs.)

Friday, August 14, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-13

SA: Paul
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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- Did not open tonight due to high wind speeds, high humidity and cloud.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-12

SA: Paul
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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- We began the evening later than expected due to clouds which cleared after 21:00. Observing conditions were not ideal, had high wind speeds and bad seeing which limited the programs we could attempt. Closed the telescope at 03:00 due to high humidity.

- Managed to obtain data for the following proposals:

2015-1-SCI-053 P3 RSS (Multi-wavelength classification of unidentified Blazar-like Fermi-2LAC catalogue sources)
2015-1-SCI-017 P3 SCAM (Observations of evolved massive stars revealed with Spitzer and WISE)
2015-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (We aim to study a number of candidate ultracool objects, which should include new brown dwarfs.)

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-11

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others: Paul K

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Summary
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Thin cloud to start off with tonight which allowed for some observations, but thickened up significantly after around 1:45 am.

Data taken for:

2015-1-MLT-002 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-1-SCI-041 P1 RSS (Superwinds in luminous starburst galaxies)
2015-1-SCI-028 P1 HRS (Looking for evidence of massive white dwarfs in symbiotic novae)
2015-1-SCI-012 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2015-1-SCI-045 P3 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae)

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-10

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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A nice clear night with a very long stretch of better than 1.5 arcsec seeing at end of the night.

Data taken for:

2015-1-SCI-018 P0 HRS (Accretion in Young Binary Star Systems)
2015-1-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Redshift determination of newly confirmed galaxy clusters)
2015-1-SCI-020 P1 RSS (x3) (Studying an unusual post-starburst radio galaxy with a high ionization gas outflow)
2015-1-SCI-065 P1 RSS (FP Halpha kinematics of RESOLVE galaxies)
2015-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-1-SCI-051 P2 RSS (Redshifts of gravitationally lensed arcs in El Gordo)
2015-1-SCI-045 P3 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae)

Monday, August 10, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-09

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others: Johan

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Summary
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Wind changed to south east bringing awful seeing (up to 9 arcsec at times!). We did however managed to get one block done in 4-6 arcsec seeing before closing due to high humidity. Then later around 4 am we opened after a miraculous and bumpy humidity rollercoaster to get another 3 blocks.

Data taken for:

2015-1-SCI-006 P1 RSS (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2015-1-SCI-013 P2 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds )
2015-1-SCI-052 P2 RSS (Finding the redshift and ionization of WISE-selected QSOs)
2015-1-SCI-045 P3 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae)

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-08

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others: Johan at start of night

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Summary
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A long night with several tech problems, but managed to get a decent amount of science too.

Data taken for:

2014-1-MLT-003 P0 BVIT (Observe the accretion disc as a white dwarf, neutron star or black hole gobbles up a companion.)
2015-1-SCI-006 P1 RSS (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2015-1-SCI-052 P2 RSS (Finding the redshift and ionization of WISE-selected QSOs)
2015-1-SCI-045 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae)
2015-1-SCI-012 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2015-1-SCI-005 P3 RSS (x2) (Time variability of emerging BAL QSOs.)

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-07

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others: Johan, Paul R via phone

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Summary
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A mostly productive night albeit for about 2 h of several technical issues.


Data taken for:

2014-1-MLT-003 P0 BVIT (Observe the accretion disc as a white dwarf, neutron star or black hole gobbles up a companion.)
2015-1-SCI-041 P1 RSS (Superwinds in luminous starburst galaxies)
2015-1-SCI-013 P2 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds )
2015-1-SCI-051 P2 RSS (Redshifts of gravitationally lensed arcs in El Gordo)
2015-1-SCI-037 P2 HRS (Exploring the limits of HRS for measuring Exoplanet Radial Velocities)
2015-1-SCI-064 P3 HRS (Determining the rotation rate of O stars in Wolf Rayet/ O star binaries.)
2015-1-SCI-012 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2015-1-SCI-026 P3 HRS (Doppler tomography of T Tauri-type star and a search for forming planet)

Friday, August 7, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-06

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others: Keith, Johan

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Summary
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A long clear night.
Data taken for:

2015-1-SCI-016 P1 RSS (RINGS: The RSS Imaging spectroscopy Nearby Galaxy Survey)
2015-1-SCI-018 P2 HRS (Accretion in Young Binary Star Systems)
2015-1-SCI-055 P2 RSS (Spectroscopic classification of candidate magnetic cataclysmic variables in the CRTS)
2015-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (Searching the Milky Way for symbiotic stars)
2015-1-SCI-005 P2 RSS (Time variability of emerging BAL QSOs.)
2015-1-SCI-023 P2 RSS (x2) (Study of the extraplanar diffuse ionized gas properties of galaxy NGC 5775)
2015-1-SCI-046 P3 SCAM (Redshift determination of newly confirmed galaxy clusters)
2015-1-SCI-012 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2015-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (We aim to study a number of candidate ultracool objects, which should include new brown dwarfs.)
2015-1-SCI-059 P4 RSS (Long term monitoring of the SMC LBV S18 and LMC sgB[e] star S134)

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-05

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others: Johan, Paul R via phone

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Summary
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A long clear night but several technical problems early on. Data taken for:

2015-1-SCI-008 P0 RSS (Classification of possible supernovae)
2015-1-SCI-013 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds )
2015-1-SCI-070 P1 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6681 (M70))
2015-1-SCI-006 P1 SCAM (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2015-1-SCI-005 P2 RSS (Time variability of emerging BAL QSOs.)
2015-1-MLT-002 P3 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-1-SCI-026 P3 HRS (Doppler tomography of T Tauri-type star and a search for forming planet)
2015-1-SCI-012 P3 RSS (x3) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-04

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Brent, Thea, Enrico (Derck & Patricia visiting)

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Summary
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High humidity kept us closed. Condensation later froze.

No data taken.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-03

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Enrico

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Summary
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This windy night only barely gave us a chance to observe one block at the start of the evening. Finished with humidity and thick clouds in the early morning hours.

Data taken for:

2015-1-MLT-004 P0 RSS (Deriving the mass of the central super-massive black hole in the core of active galaxies)

Monday, August 3, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-02

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Enrico, Amanda & interns

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Summary
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High wind-speeds drove thin moonlit clouds across the sky all night. With both HRS and Fabry-Perot unavailable due to technical issues, our productivity was severely hampered. RSS articulation errors added to our frustrations, but we could recover those and continue to take data.

Nevertheless, data were taken for:

2015-1-SCI-056 P2 RSS (x2) (Observing spectra of Pluto as it rotates, in support of NASA's New Horizons mission.)
2015-1-SCI-045 P3 RSS (x3) (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae)
2015-1-SCI-017 P3 SCAM (Observations of evolved massive stars revealed with Spitzer and WISE)
2015-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (We aim to study a number of candidate ultracool objects, which should include new brown dwarfs.)
2015-1-SCI-062 P4 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Night Log 2015-08-01

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Keith, Enrico, Pierre

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Summary
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Bright night with thin high cloud.

Data taken for:

2015-1-MLT-004 P0 RSS (Deriving the mass of the central super-massive black hole in the core of active galaxies)
2015-1-SCI-018 P1 HRS (Accretion in Young Binary Star Systems)
2015-1-SCI-070 P1 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6681 (M70))
2015-1-SCI-044 P2 RSS (Mapping the velocity fields of N88)
2015-1-SCI-015 P3 RSS (Fuelling and feedback in the vicinity of blackholes)
2015-1-SCI-045 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae)
2015-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x3) (We aim to study a number of candidate ultracool objects, which should include new brown dwarfs.)
2015-1-SCI-059 P4 RSS (Long term monitoring of the SMC LBV S18 and LMC sgB[e] star S134)

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Night Log 2015-07-31

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Blue moon (2nd full moon in the month) tonight. Unfortunately this clear (albeit extremely bright) night with good seeing was not as productive as expected, due to technical issues. Considering water pipes on site had been frozen solid by last night's -5 degrees Celsius, it's hardly surprising that things weren't running quite as smoothly as we're accustomed to.

Data taken for:

2015-1-MLT-002 P3 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-1-SCI-017 P3 SCAM (Observations of evolved massive stars revealed with Spitzer and WISE)
2015-1-SCI-045 P3 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae)
2015-1-SCI-026 P3 HRS (Doppler tomography of T Tauri-type star and a search for forming planet)
2015-1-SCI-005 P3 RSS (Time variability of emerging BAL QSOs.)
2015-1-SCI-027 P4 RSS (x2) (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)
2015-1-SCI-062 P4 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)

Engineering test:
- RSS Straylight test in Bright time