Night Log 2016-12-30

SA: Petri
SO: Thea
Others: Minna, Ant + visitors, David and Nico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Another stable full night of science, seeing better too, though now
cirrus on the sky all night. No problems. Data taken for:

2016-2-SCI-043 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of type Ia supernovae for investigations of the nature of dark energy)
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-021 P1 RSS (Line profile variations in PKS 1020-103)
2016-2-SCI-051 P1 RSS (Measuring galaxy redshifts for the MeerKAT Laduma survey.)
2016-2-SCI-045 P1 RSS (Rotation Curves of CHILES Galaxies)
2016-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (x2) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-SCI-019 P2,3 RSS (x2) (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)

Night Log 2016-12-29

SA: Petri
SO: Thea
Others: Ant, Minna, David, Nico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A nice and stable dark and clear night, with average seeing. Many
long science observations done:

2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-032 P0 RSS (Multiwavelength study of the AGN)
2016-2-SCI-045 P1 RSS (x2) (Rotation Curves of CHILES Galaxies)
2016-2-SCI-024 P1 SCAM (x2) (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2016-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-SCI-023 P3 SCAM (Confirmation and redshift determination of galaxy clusters.)

Night Log 2016-12-28

SA: Petri
SO: Thea
Others: Ant, David, Nico. Minna briefly.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Dark and mostly clear night, but poor seeing so used part of the time
for engineering. High humidity eventually cut us 1.5h short. Science for:

2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-032 P0 RSS (Multiwavelength study of the AGN)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2016-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2016-2-SCI-019 P3 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)

Night Log 2016-12-27

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Stephanie, Keith (Via VNC)

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


High humidity and cloudy conditions forced us to close very early tonight. We did get some data though.

Data taken for:

2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-033 P3 HRS (Measuring physical parameters of early-type systems in the LMC)

Night Log 2016-12-26

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Stephanie, Johan, Thabelo (via VNC)

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A clear night, with some technical issues cutting our observations short.

Data taken for:

2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-045 P1 RSS (Rotation Curves of CHILES Galaxies)
2016-2-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)
2016-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x3) (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)

Night Log 2016-12-25

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Stephanie, (David, Nico and Erica for a short visit)

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Christmas day observing run went really well, with some variable seeing conditions. A few clouds towards the end of the night, but we managed to push through.

Data taken for:

2016-2-SCI-043 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of type Ia supernovae for investigations of the nature of dark energy)
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-021 P1 RSS (Line profile variations in PKS 1020-103)
2016-2-SCI-033 P2 HRS (Measuring physical parameters of early-type systems in the LMC)
2016-2-SCI-033 P3 HRS (x2) (Measuring physical parameters of early-type systems in the LMC)
2016-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (x2) (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2016-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (The search for Black Holes in binaries that will eventually merge.)

Night Log 2016-12-24

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Stephanie

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A clear night with highly variable seeing conditions, leaning towards the really bad side. Not the Christmas present we wanted.

Data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-019 P1 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2016-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (x3) (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)
2016-2-SCI-007 P4 RSS (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)
2016-2-SCI-025 P4 HRS (A Faint WR+O star in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-SCI-030 P4 RSS (x3) (Characterization of potential pulsating compact objects for the TESS mission)

Night Log 2016-12-23

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Stephanie

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


No observing tonight. High winds and rainy conditions kept us closed all night.

Night Log 2016-12-22

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Stephanie

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A clear night with sub-arcsec seeing for the first half of the night.

Data taken for:

2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-033 P3 HRS (Measuring physical parameters of early-type systems in the LMC)
2016-2-SCI-027 P3 RSS (Lya halo around RLQSOs.)
2016-2-SCI-017 P1 RSS (x2) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-2-SCI-017 P3 RSS (x3) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))

Night Log 2016-12-21

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Stephanie, Marissa

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2016-2-SCI-033 P2 HRS (Measuring physical parameters of early-type systems in the LMC)
2015-2-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2016-2-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-2-SCI-017 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)

Night Log 2016-12-20

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico, Rudi (Driver's Seat), Stephanie

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A clear night with variable seeing. Rising humidity throughout caused rapid changes in seeing. Many high priority blocks observed tonight.

2016-2-LSP-001 P0 SCAM (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-DDT-003 P0 RSS (Imaging polarimetry of a peculiar supernova)
2016-2-DDT-003 P0 RSS (Imaging polarimetry of a peculiar supernova)
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-021 P1 RSS (Line profile variations in PKS 1020-103)
2016-2-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)
2016-2-SCI-046 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)

Night Log 2016-12-19

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico, Rudi (in driver's seat), Stephanie

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A clear night to start with, but the humidity forced us to close just after midnight. We did get some data though.

Data taken for:

2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-033 P2 HRS (Measuring physical parameters of early-type systems in the LMC)

Night Log 2016-12-18

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico, Rudi (in the driver's seat), Stephanie

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear bright-grey night, with some very stable seeing throughout the night.

2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (x3) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-2-SCI-023 P3 SCAM (Confirmation and redshift determination of galaxy clusters.)
2016-2-SCI-033 P3 HRS (Measuring physical parameters of early-type systems in the LMC)

Night Log 2016-12-17

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico. Rudi (in training) & Stephanie

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear bright-grey night.

Data taken for:
2016-2-SCI-038 P2 RSS (Identifying galaxies in massive clusters in the early Universe)
2016-2-SCI-033 P2 HRS (x2) (Measuring physical parameters of early-type systems in the LMC)
2016-2-SCI-017 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)
2016-2-SCI-057 P3 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions )
2016-2-SCI-047 P4 RSS (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)

Night Log 2016-12-16

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A productive bright night with thin clouds and no technical problems.

Data taken for:

2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2016-2-SCI-033 P3 HRS (Measuring physical parameters of early-type systems in the LMC)
2016-1-MLT-007 P3 HRS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (x3) (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)

Night Log 2016-12-15

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico. Thembela.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Bright night. Lost 2.5 hrs due to weather.

Data taken for:
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-1-MLT-007 P3 HRS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (x3) (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)

Night Log 2016-12-14

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear bright, but somewhat troublesome night.

Data taken for:
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (x3) (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)
2016-1-MLT-007 P3 HRS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)

Night Log 2016-12-13

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Fred, Marissa and Enrico for overlap.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A clear night with very variable seeing. Science data for:

2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2016-2-SCI-030 P3 RSS (Characterization of potential pulsating compact objects for the TESS mission)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (x4) (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)

Night Log 2016-12-12

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


First part of the night lost to thick cloud. We opened up briefly for one block and promptly closed again to humidity. And the lucky block was:

2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)

Night Log 2016-12-11

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A nice clear full Moon night with medium seeing and science data for:

2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-SCI-016 P2 HRS (High resolution observations of a pulsating planet host star to constrain the age of the system.)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (x2) (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2016-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (x2) (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)

Night Log 2016-12-10

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: E10 remotely for PCON.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Night of very variable seeing, from mildly bad to appalling, with some fast moving clouds making an appearance from around 00:20 and with some technical difficulties to boot. But never fear, we still managed to make the most of it and take science data for:

2016-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2016-2-SCI-052 P3 RSS (x2) (Observing edge on BeXRBs in the Magellanic Clouds- PI: @astro_Liz)
2016-2-SCI-030 P4 RSS (Characterization of potential pulsating compact objects for the TESS mission)

Night Log 2016-12-09

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Taygan

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


It was very cloudy at the beginning of the night and then it suddenly cleared just after the end of twilight! Clear skies and good seeing the rest of the night, until the humidity forced us to close at ~2:20am.

Science data for:
2016-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (x3) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-2-SCI-026 P2 RSS (Search for new symbiotic stars)

Night Log 2016-12-08

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Taygan

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


The night started very cloudy, but the cloud slowly thinned and we were able to start taking data just before 1am.

Science data for:

016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-2-SCI-026 P3 RSS (Search for new symbiotic stars)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (x2) (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)

Night Log 2016-12-07

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Chris, Keith, Thabelo, Timmy and E10 for the tracker. Lisa, David G., Tumelo and Mosa Qhobela for a nice visit.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


An excellent start to the week with a beautiful, clear night with decent seeing. Science data for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-043 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of type Ia supernovae for investigations of the nature of dark energy)
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 SCAM (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-051 P1 RSS (Measuring galaxy redshifts for the MeerKAT Laduma survey.)
2016-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)

Night Log 2016-12-06

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others: Encarni, Ivan and Tamara

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Practically whole night was lost due to weather.

=> Some data were taken for programs:
2016-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)

Night Log 2016-12-05

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others: Ivan Katkov, Tamara for a while

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Nice warm night with variable seeing from 1" to 3.5" and some technical problems.

=> Data were taken for programs:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-MLT-005 P1 HRS (Investigating the chemical composition of the bright star Beta Pic with it's circumstellar disk )
2016-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (x3) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)

Night Log 2016-12-03

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others: Ivan Katkov, Tamara for a while

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Entire night lost to bad weather

=> HRS tests were done

Night Log 2016-12-02

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others: Ivan Katkov, Tamara for while

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Clear dark night with good enough seeing.

=> Data were taken for programs:
2016-2-DDT-003 P0 RSS (Imaging polarimetry of a peculiar supernova)
2016-2-SCI-024 P1 SCAM (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2016-2-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-SCI-033 P2 HRS (Measuring physical parameters of early-type systems in the LMC)
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)

Night Log 2016-12-01

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others: Ivan Katkov, Tamara

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Relatively clear dark night with unstable seeing. Seeing started from moderate values, started to be very good around midnight and grows again to the end of the night.

=> Data were taken for programs:
2016-2-DDT-003 P0 RSS (Imaging polarimetry of a peculiar supernova)
2016-2-SCI-024 P1 SCAM (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2016-2-SCI-036 P2 RSS (Measuring the distance to low surface brightness galaxies)
2016-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (x3) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (x2) (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-2-SCI-026 P2 RSS (Search for new symbiotic stars)

Night Log 2016-11-30

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others: Ivan Katkov, Tamara for a while

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Stable, clear night with moderate seeing.

=> Data were taken for programs:
2016-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-009 P2 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopy of K2 White Dwarfs)
2016-2-SCI-033 P2 HRS (Measuring physical parameters of early-type systems in the LMC)
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-2-SCI-036 P2 RSS (Measuring the distance to low surface brightness galaxies)
2016-2-SCI-038 P2 RSS (Identifying galaxies in massive clusters in the early Universe)
2016-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))

Night Log 2016-11-29

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Alexei for handover. Ivan Katkov. Enrico. Petri & the Chinese delegation.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Much excitement with the Chinese delegation visiting tonight. A clear night with variable seeing resulted in us taking data for:
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2016-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2016-2-SCI-024 P1 SCAM (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2016-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)

Night Log 2016-11-28

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Back on sky after the technical team replaced the burst air supply pipe today. The night was mostly clear the first half and cloudy the second.

Data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-2-SCI-038 P2 RSS (x2) (Identifying galaxies in massive clusters in the early Universe)

Night Log 2016-11-27

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico. Nicola & Damiano visiting

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


At 20:30 a ToO was submitted, which we observed successfully. Shortly thereafter a pipe burst in our pressurized air supply. The technicians heroically tried to patch it up, but unfortunately the problem could not be fixed tonight.

Data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)

Night Log 2016-11-26

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear night with marginal seeing and quite a few technical hiccups.

Data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-036 P1 RSS (Measuring the distance to low surface brightness galaxies)
2016-2-SCI-038 P2 RSS (Identifying galaxies in massive clusters in the early Universe)
2016-2-SCI-009 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of K2 White Dwarfs)
2016-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (x3) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-2-SCI-008 P3 HRS (Analyzing chemically peculiar subdwarfs and searching for the heavy-metal stars. )

Night Log 2016-11-25

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Variable seeing during a mostly clear night, which ended somewhat cloudy.

Data taken for:
2016-2-COM-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Polarimetry test proposal)
2016-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-2-SCI-009 P2 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopy of K2 White Dwarfs)
2016-1-MLT-007 P3 HRS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2016-2-SCI-026 P3 RSS (Search for new symbiotic stars)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)
2016-2-SCI-015 P3 RSS ( Spectral classification of pulsting stars.)

Night Log 2016-11-24

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Happy Thanksgiving! Scattered clouds and marginal seeing limited our options, but we took data for:

2016-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-2-SCI-015 P1 RSS ( Spectral classification of pulsting stars.)
2016-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-039 P2 HRS (Study of evolution in outflows from outburst)
2016-2-SCI-055 P2 HRS (Measuring the spin of Black Hole progenitors in WR+O binaries.)
2016-2-SCI-007 P4 RSS (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)

Night Log 2016-11-23

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Most of the night lost to weather.

Data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)

Night Log 2016-11-22

SA: �ric
SO: Fred
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Entire night lost to weather. It rained at the beginning of the night, and the weather stayed cloudy all night long.
But we took advantage of not being able to do any science to take a lot of calibrations for all our instruments.

Night Log 2016-11-21

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A long and productive night. We closed 30mn before the end of the night when the weather conditions worsened.
We have managed to get data for :
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x3) (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2015-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (x2) (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2016-2-SCI-038 P2 RSS (Identifying galaxies in massive clusters in the early Universe)
2016-2-SCI-046 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)

Night Log 2016-11-20

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Whole night lost to weather.

Night Log 2016-11-19

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A productive night, until 1h before the twilight, where the clouds forced us to close.
We could get data for:

2016-2-SCI-043 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of type Ia supernovae for investigations of the nature of dark energy)
2016-2-SCI-002 P1 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6584 and NGC 7099)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2016-2-SCI-055 P2 HRS (Measuring the spin of Black Hole progenitors in WR+O binaries.)
2016-2-SCI-038 P2 RSS (Identifying galaxies in massive clusters in the early Universe)

Night Log 2016-11-18

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A productive night, that went smoothly with no technical problem and a nice cooperative weather.
We could obtain data for the following programs:

2015-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (x2) (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Polarimetry test proposal)
2016-2-SCI-019 P1 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2016-2-SCI-038 P2 RSS (Identifying galaxies in massive clusters in the early Universe)
2016-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-2-SCI-055 P2 HRS (Measuring the spin of Black Hole progenitors in WR+O binaries.)

Night Log 2016-11-17

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others: Petri and journalists from Finland

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Whole night lost to bad weather.

Night Log 2016-11-16

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others: Petri

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


the night began with extremely good conditions, but around 1 AM, humidity forced us to close.
We obtained data for the following programs:
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2016-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-2-SCI-026 P3 RSS (x3) (Search for new symbiotic stars)

Night Log 2016-11-15

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others: Eric for handover.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A lovely problem-free night with good stable seeing!

Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-2-SCI-016 P2 HRS (High resolution observations of a pulsating planet host star to constrain the age of the system.)
2016-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-2-SCI-039 P3 HRS (Study of evolution in outflows from outburst)
2016-2-SCI-030 P3 RSS (Characterization of potential pulsating compact objects for the TESS mission)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (x2) (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2016-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (The search for Black Holes in binaries that will eventually merge.)

Night Log 2016-11-14

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others: Hitesh, John, Petri, Chris, Ockert, Steve C., Lizette, John, Lisa and members of the board, Marissa, Enrico and Fred

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A clear bright night with a visit from the SALT board. Poor seeing and bright moon, so lots of short blocks.

Data taken for:
2016-2-SCI-026 P2 (x2), P3 RSS (Search for new symbiotic stars)
2016-2-SCI-030 P3, P4 (x5) RSS (Characterization of potential pulsating compact objects for the TESS mission)
2016-2-SCI-052 P3 RSS (x3) (Observing edge on BeXRBs in the Magellanic Clouds- PI: @astro_Liz)
2016-2-SCI-046 P4 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)
2016-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (The search for Black Holes in binaries that will eventually merge.)

Night Log 2016-11-13

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others: Hitesh, John, Chris, Marissa, Enrico and Fred

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Similar to previous nights this week, we lost the last few hours to high humidity. Some technical problems with both HRS and RSS tonight.

Data taken for:
2016-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-039 P2 HRS (Study of evolution in outflows from outburst)

Night Log 2016-11-12

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others: Fred, Marissa and Enrico briefly

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A productive start to the night with reasonable seeing. We fitted in two P0s but closed for high humidity soon after midnight again.

Data taken for:
2016-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far)
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-026 P2 RSS (Search for new symbiotic stars)
2016-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-2-SCI-007 P3 RSS (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)

Night Log 2016-11-11

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others: Fred, Marissa, Enrico, Vanessa and Naomi visited.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A productive first half of the night, but unfortunately we lost the rest of the night to high humidity.

Data taken for:
2016-2-SCI-002 P1 HRS (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6584 and NGC 7099)
2016-2-SCI-026 P2 RSS (x4) (Search for new symbiotic stars)

Night Log 2016-11-10

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear with variable seeing at the start of the night, but most of the night lost due to cloudy weather. We did the autocollimator stray light test after closing.

Data taken for:

2016-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-046 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)
2016-2-SCI-030 P4 RSS (Characterization of potential pulsating compact objects for the TESS mission)

Night Log 2016-11-09

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others: Marissa, Fred & Enrico in between TimDimm work

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A good, mostly clear night, with the last hour lost to weather.

Data taken for:
2016-2-SCI-041 P1 RSS (x4) (Spectral mapping the dynamics and excitation of the largest embedded SMC Super Bubble)
2016-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (x3) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-055 P2 HRS (Measuring the spin of Black Hole progenitors in WR+O binaries.)

Night Log 2016-11-08

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Ros (for handover). Enrico.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Thick cloud-cover all day and most of the night. When it finally cleared, it was a beautiful night with very good seeing toward the end. It gave us the opportunity to do both P0s that were in the queue for tonight.

Data taken for:
2016-2-SCI-032 P0 RSS (Multiwavelength study of the AGN)
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (x2) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)

Night Log 2016-11-07

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A clear night with good seeing was put to productive use.

Data taken for:
2016-2-SCI-032 P0 RSS (Multiwavelength study of the AGN)
2016-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (x10) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-SCI-055 P2 HRS (Measuring the spin of Black Hole progenitors in WR+O binaries.)

Night Log 2016-11-06

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A beautiful, mostly clear night, but the seeing got away from us in the second half. Still, we had a productive night.

Data taken for:
2016-2-SCI-053 P0 RSS (Classification of possible supernovae)
2016-2-SCI-032 P0 RSS (Multiwavelength study of the AGN)
2016-2-SCI-055 P1 HRS (Measuring the spin of Black Hole progenitors in WR+O binaries.)
2016-2-SCI-019 P1 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2016-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-SCI-009 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of K2 White Dwarfs)
2016-2-SCI-008 P2 HRS (x2) (Analyzing chemically peculiar subdwarfs and searching for the heavy-metal stars. )
2016-2-SCI-015 P3 RSS (x3) ( Spectral classification of pulsting stars.)
2016-2-SCI-030 P3 RSS (x6) (Characterization of potential pulsating compact objects for the TESS mission)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)

Night Log 2016-11-05

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico, David dB, Visitors (Karin, Nick & Simone Venter)

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


The thick cloud cover of the afternoon cleared up just in time for Astronomical twilight, but the seeing was poor all night. Closed early for ridge cloud.

Data taken for:
2016-2-SCI-009 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of K2 White Dwarfs)
2016-2-SCI-055 P2 HRS (Measuring the spin of Black Hole progenitors in WR+O binaries.)
2016-2-SCI-030 P3 RSS (x2) (Characterization of potential pulsating compact objects for the TESS mission)
2016-2-SCI-052 P3 RSS (Observing edge on BeXRBs in the Magellanic Clouds- PI: @astro_Liz)
2016-2-SCI-015 P3 RSS (x3) ( Spectral classification of pulsting stars.)
2016-2-SCI-046 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)
2016-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)

Night Log 2016-11-04

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Night with thin high clouds that ended in high humidity.

Data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-055 P1 HRS (Measuring the spin of Black Hole progenitors in WR+O binaries.)
2016-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (x3) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-SCI-009 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of K2 White Dwarfs)

Night Log 2016-11-03

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico. Steve Crawford, Blaine Lomberg

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A windy night with mostly thin cloud overhead.

Data taken for:
2016-2-SCI-019 P1 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2016-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-2-SCI-007 P1 RSS (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)
2016-2-SCI-055 P1 HRS (x2) (Measuring the spin of Black Hole progenitors in WR+O binaries.)
2016-2-MLT-005 P1 HRS (Investigating the chemical composition of the bright star Beta Pic with it's circumstellar disk )
2016-2-SCI-015 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectral classification of pulsating stars.)

Night Log 2016-11-02

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico. Steve Crawford, Blaine Lomberg

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A warm, cloudy night with some technical difficulties.

Nevertheless, data were taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-009 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of K2 White Dwarfs)
2016-2-SCI-030 P3 RSS (x5) (Characterization of potential pulsating compact objects for the TESS mission)
2016-2-SCI-052 P3 RSS (x2) (Observing edge on BeXRBs in the Magellanic Clouds- PI: @astro_Liz)
2016-2-SCI-007 P3 RSS (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)
2016-2-SCI-015 P3 RSS ( Spectral classification of pulsting stars.)

Night Log 2016-11-01

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others: Tamara for a while.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Very unstable night with clouds and rising humidity which closed us finally. Moderate seeing during most of the night.

=> Data were taken for programs:
2016-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-SCI-044 P1 RSS (Kinemayics of HII shells in the SMC Wing.)
2016-2-SCI-044 P2 RSS (Kinemayics of HII shells in the SMC Wing.)
2016-2-SCI-052 P3 RSS (Observing edge on BeXRBs in the Magellanic Clouds- PI: @astro_Liz)

Night Log 2016-10-31

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others: Tamara for a while

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Very stable night with good and very good seeing.

=> Data were taken for programs:
2016-1-SCI-018 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of type Ia supernovae for investigations of the nature of dark energy)
2016-2-SCI-008 P1 HRS (Analyzing chemically peculiar subdwarfs and searching for the heavy-metal stars. )
2016-1-MLT-005 P1 RSS (Multi-slit spectroscopy of edge-on galaxies)
2016-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-029 P2 HRS (x3) (Probing Supernovae Chemical Yields with Magellanic Cloud B-type Stars)

Night Log 2016-10-30

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others: Tamara for a while

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Stable night with good seeing without strong wind and high humidity.

=> Data were taken for programs:
2016-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-1-SCI-004 P0 RSS (Classification of possible supernovae)
2016-1-SCI-018 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of type Ia supernovae for investigations of the nature of dark energy)
2016-1-SCI-002 P1 HRS (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6681, NGC 6584 and NGC 7099)
2016-1-SCI-011 P1 RSS (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2016-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2016-1-SCI-022 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-SCI-029 P2 HRS (Probing Supernovae Chemical Yields with Magellanic Cloud B-type Stars)

Night Log 2016-10-29

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others: Tamara for a while

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Clear night with high humidity and variable seeing, which was very bad at the beginning of the night and very good at the end.

=> Data were taken for programs:
2016-1-SCI-004 P0 RSS (Classification of possible supernovae)
2016-1-SCI-041 P1 RSS (Ionized gas properties and stellar content in the Compton thick obscured nucleus galaxy NGC1377. )
2016-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Unraveling ring galaxies)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-014 P2 HRS (Rutgers TAC discretionary time)
2016-1-SCI-054 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of ACT mm-band selected sources)
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-1-SCI-022 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x3) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-10-28

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others: Tamara for a while

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Unstable night with moderate seeing and heavy clouds at the end pushing us to close.

=> Data were taken for programs:
2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Unraveling ring galaxies)
2016-1-SCI-041 P1 RSS (Ionized gas properties and stellar content in the Compton thick obscured nucleus galaxy NGC1377. )
2016-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2016-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-1-SCI-029 P2 HRS (Probing Supernovae Chemical Yields with Magellanic Cloud B-type Stars)
2016-1-SCI-044 P2 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)
2016-1-SCI-021 P3 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)

Night Log 2016-10-27

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others: Tamara for a while

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Clear night with unstable seeing changed from moderate to vary bad. Some data were lost due to these variations.

=> Data were taken for programs:
2016-1-SCI-040 P1 RSS (Using Fabry-Perot to detect star forming galaxies in distant, massive galaxy clusters.)
2016-1-SCI-041 P1 RSS (Ionized gas properties and stellar content in the Compton thick obscured nucleus galaxy NGC1377. )
2016-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2016-1-SCI-029 P2 HRS (Probing Supernovae Chemical Yields with Magellanic Cloud B-type Stars)
2016-1-SCI-012 P2 HRS (Revealing evolved massive stars with Spitzer, WISE and SALT)
2016-1-SCI-054 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of ACT mm-band selected sources)
2016-1-SCI-026 P3 HRS (The Origin and Fate of Very Fast Rotators among Evolved Massive Stars)
2016-1-SCI-051 P3 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)

Night Log 2016-10-26

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others: Tamara for a while

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Clear night with very good seeing and low humidity.

=> Data were taken for programs:
2016-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-SCI-054 P1 RSS (Spectroscopy of ACT mm-band selected sources)
2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Unraveling ring galaxies)
2016-1-SCI-041 P1 RSS (Ionized gas properties and stellar content in the Compton thick obscured nucleus galaxy NGC1377. )
2016-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2016-1-SCI-011 P1 SCAM (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2016-1-SCI-061 P2 RSS (Study of ionized gas in galaxies where the centers are obscured by dust.)
2015-2-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2016-1-SCI-044 P2 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)

Night Log 2016-10-25

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael. Thabelo, Johan and Keith for the tracker.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Very busy and productive dark night, with some pockets of poor seeing but mostly good. A good way to end the week!

Science data for:

2016-1-SCI-004 P0 RSS (Classification of possible supernovae)
2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Unraveling ring galaxies)
2016-1-SCI-044 P1 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)
2016-1-SCI-040 P1 RSS (Using Fabry-Perot to detect star forming galaxies in distant, massive galaxy clusters.)
2016-1-SCI-011 P1 SCAM (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2016-1-SCI-009 P3 HRS (Searching for circumbinary planets)
2016-2-SCI-052 P3 RSS (x2) (Observing edge on BeXRBs in the Magellanic Clouds- PI: @astro_Liz)
2016-1-SCI-039 P3 RSS (Observing unusual binaries containing a massive blue star and a hydrogen burning white dwarf)
2016-1-SCI-022 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-10-24

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear night with mostly decent seeing - some thin cloud passing by at inconvenient times, and seeing blowing up towards the end of the night when the humidity forced us to close early.

Science data for:
2016-1-SCI-004 P0 RSS (Classification of possible supernovae)
2016-1-SCI-040 P1 RSS (Using Fabry-Perot to detect star forming galaxies in distant, massive galaxy clusters.)
2016-1-SCI-044 P2 RSS (x2) (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-022 P2 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-2-SCI-015 P3 RSS ( Spectral classification of pulsting stars.)
2016-1-SCI-053 P3 RSS (Gas dynamics in NGC300)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-10-23

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Beautiful clear night but with pockets of seriously ugly seeing. Science data for:

2016-1-SCI-004 P0 RSS (Classification of possible supernovae)
2016-1-COM-005 P0 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2016-1-SCI-047 P0 HRS (Confirmation of exoplanet candidates)
2016-1-SCI-039 P1 RSS (Observing unusual binaries containing a massive blue star and a hydrogen burning white dwarf)
2016-1-SCI-053 P2 RSS (Gas dynamics in NGC300)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 RSS (x2) (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-044 P2 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)
2016-1-SCI-022 P2 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2015-1-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Deriving the mass of the black holes in the core of active galaxies @romeroencarni1 @sand_dave)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2016-1-SCI-051 P3 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)
2016-2-SCI-015 P3 RSS (x2) ( Spectral classification of pulsting stars.)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-10-22

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear night with steadily climbing humidity, forcing us to close just before midnight.

Science data for:

016-1-SCI-018 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of type Ia supernovae for investigations of the nature of dark energy)
2016-1-SCI-040 P1 RSS (Using Fabry-Perot to detect star forming galaxies in distant, massive galaxy clusters.)
2016-1-DDT-005 P1 RSS (SALT H-alpha imaging spectoscopy of a new SNR in the SMC)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-051 P3 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)

Night Log 2016-10-21

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Most of the night lost to cloud, but we had some good seeing at the beginning and got science data for:

2016-2-SCI-007 P1 RSS (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)
2016-1-SCI-044 P1 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)
2016-1-SCI-060 P2 RSS (Connecting timescales of star formation and AGN activity in galaxies)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Also obtained some calibrations for our Fabry-Perot system.

Night Log 2016-10-20

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A very nice, clear and productive night with mostly decent seeing.

Science data for:
2016-1-SCI-018 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of type Ia supernovae for investigations of the nature of dark energy)
2016-1-SCI-039 P0 RSS (Observing unusual binaries containing a massive blue star and a hydrogen burning white dwarf)
2016-1-SCI-032 P1 HRS (x2) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-SCI-049 P1 RSS (x3) (Confirmation and redshift determination of galaxy clusters)
2016-1-SCI-044 P2 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)
2016-1-SCI-029 P2 HRS (Probing Supernovae Chemical Yields with Magellanic Cloud B-type Stars)

Night Log 2016-10-19

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael, Thabelo.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A partly cloudy start to the night but with good seeing. The clouds cleared, all looked good for a while... and then the wind brought poor seeing and humidity and we were forced to close at 1am.

Science data for:

2016-1-SCI-014 P1 HRS (Rutgers TAC discretionary time)
2016-1-SCI-039 P1 RSS (Observing unusual binaries containing a massive blue star and a hydrogen burning white dwarf)
2016-1-SCI-044 P1 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-10-18

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others: Encarni

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


An initial blanket of thick clouds lifted to unveil a beautiful clear night with seeing mostly around 1.2 arcsec. Data taken for:

2016-1-SCI-047 P0 HRS (Confirmation of exoplanet candidates)
2016-1-SCI-014 P1 HRS (Rutgers TAC discretionary time)
2016-1-SCI-032 P1 HRS (x5) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-SCI-062 P1 RSS (Study of the kinematic connection between halo and disc gas in galaxies)
2016-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-SCI-044 P2 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-10-17

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A reasonably productive night with mostly poor seeing. Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-1-SCI-047 P0 HRS (Confirmation of exoplanet candidates)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-002 P2 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6681, NGC 6584 and NGC 7099)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 HRS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-051 P3 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)
2016-2-SCI-015 P3 RSS ( Spectral classification of pulsting stars.)
2016-2-SCI-034 P4 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x3) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-10-16

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Three blocks completed in unstable seeing conditions before closing due to high humidity. Data taken for:

2016-1-SCI-009 P3 HRS (Searching for circumbinary planets)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (x2) (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)

Night Log 2016-10-15

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


No observations tonight. Very thick cloud and high humidity.

Night Log 2016-10-14

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A lot of clouds tonight, but a few chances to observe with decent seeing of around 1 arcsec. Data taken for:

2016-2-SCI-015 P1 RSS (x4) ( Spectral classification of pulsting stars.)
2016-1-SCI-009 P3 HRS (Searching for circumbinary planets)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)

Night Log 2016-10-13

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Another bright night with highly variable seeing. First half had a long stretch of 4-5 arcsec, while we had a long stretch of 1.2 arcsec seeing at the end with thin cloud. Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-2-SCI-015 P1 RSS (x5) (Spectral classification of pulsating stars.)
2016-1-SCI-032 P2 HRS (x4) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS (Line profile variations in PKS 2135-14)
2016-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6681, NGC 6584 and NGC 7099)
2016-2-SCI-034 P3 HRS (x2) (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-10-12

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others: Petri, Chris, Keith, Lisa, Ted, Ross, SALT external review panel

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A smooth start to a clear, bright night, although seeing later became unstable in second half. Data taken for:

2016-1-SCI-047 P0 HRS (Confirmation of exoplanet candidates)
2016-2-SCI-015 P1 RSS (x9) ( Spectral classification of pulsating stars.)
2016-1-SCI-032 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-SCI-002 P1 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6681, NGC 6584 and NGC 7099)
2016-1-SCI-043 P2 RSS (Spectrophotometry of Magellanic symbiotic stars)
2016-1-SCI-009 P3 HRS (Searching for circumbinary planets)
2016-1-SCI-022 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)
2016-1-SCI-051 P3 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)
2016-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (x2) (Analysis of metallicity gradient and local chemical composition heterogeneity in the Galactic disk)

Night Log 2016-10-11

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others: SALT review committee, Brent, Fred

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Weather prevented us from obtaining many data.
But we could get some for the following programs:

2016-2-SCI-015 P1 RSS ( Spectral classification of pulsating stars.)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x3) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-10-10

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Weather was unfirendly to us most of the night. We had very high wind for most of the first half of the night.
We could gather data for the following programs:
2016-1-SCI-047 P0 HRS (Confirmation of exoplanet candidates)
2016-1-SCI-039 P1 RSS (Observing unusual binaries containing a massive blue star and a hydrogen burning white dwarf)
2016-1-SCI-032 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-SCI-044 P2 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2015-1-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Deriving the mass of the black holes in the core of active galaxies @romeroencarni1 @sand_dave)
2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)
2016-1-SCI-051 P3 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)

Night Log 2016-10-09

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


The night started well and we could observe some high priority targets that have just appeared very recently.

But unfortunately, the clouds came around 23:00 and forced us to close.

We obtained data for :
2016-1-SCI-032 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 RSS (x2) (Follow up observations of transient sources)

Night Log 2016-10-08

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Could not open tonight, the weather was very bad.

Night Log 2016-10-07

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A fairly good night. Weather was cooperative and we could get data for the following programs:

2016-1-SCI-018 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of type Ia supernovae for investigations of the nature of dark energy)
2016-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (x2) (Unraveling ring galaxies)
2015-2-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2016-1-SCI-006 P2 HRS (Probing winds from the center of the Milky Way (@astrocrawford))
2016-1-SCI-043 P2 RSS (Spectrophotometry of Magellanic symbiotic stars)
2016-1-SCI-051 P3 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)

Night Log 2016-10-06

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Weather prevented us from observing most of the night.
But we could get data for the following programs:
2015-2-MLT-006 P2 RSS (x2) (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-10-05

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A productive night, with good weather conditions.

We have obtained data for the following programs:
2016-1-SCI-056 P1 HRS (Search for Remnant Exoplanetary Debris around White Dwarf Stars)
2016-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (x3) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-SCI-002 P1 HRS (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6681, NGC 6584 and NGC 7099)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 SCAM (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-029 P2 HRS (x2) (Probing Supernovae Chemical Yields with Magellanic Cloud B-type Stars)

Night Log 2016-10-04

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Eric. Enrico. Keith & Thabelo (auto-collimator tweaks). Keith's visitor.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear night with marginal seeing most of the night. Some technical difficulties lost us almost an hour and we spent 45 min fine-tuning the auto-collimator at the start of the evening.

Data taken for:

2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Unraveling ring galaxies)
2016-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (x11) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-SCI-024 P2 HRS (Hunting for Ultra-Metal Poor stars: a quest to find the first generation of stars)

Night Log 2016-10-03

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Enrico. Keith for auto-collimator work. Thabelo for PFIS.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear night with marginal seeing. Used ~2hrs to adjust and then tweak the auto-collimator settings to improve Image Quality. More than an hour lost due to technical difficulties.

Data taken for:

2016-1-COM-005 P0 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2016-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-SCI-011 P1 RSS (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-1-SCI-024 P2 HRS (Hunting for Ultra-Metal Poor stars: a quest to find the first generation of stars)
2016-1-SCI-029 P2 HRS (Probing Supernovae Chemical Yields with Magellanic Cloud B-type Stars)

Night Log 2016-10-02

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Enrico. Thabelo

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear night with highly variable seeing.

Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-010 P2 RSS (x2) (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2015-1-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Deriving the mass of the black holes in the core of active galaxies @romeroencarni1 @sand_dave)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x17) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-10-01

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Enrico. Thea and school-friends visited. All the small telescope observers came for a tour once we closed for the night.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear evening the first half until high humidity cut the evening short. Finished all the weekly calibrations while the dome was closed.

Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-010 P0 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-022 P2 RSS (x3) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-09-30

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Enrico, Jono (popped by)

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear night with great seeing. This afternoon we spotted a family of Meerkats (mongoose) foraging on-site and tonight our on-sky endeavours were dominated by high priority Meerkat (radio telescope array) collaborative science.

Data taken for:

2016-1-SCI-039 P0 RSS (Observing unusual binaries containing a massive blue star and a hydrogen burning white dwarf)
2016-1-MLT-010 P0 RSS (x2) (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (x10) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Unraveling ring galaxies)

Night Log 2016-09-29

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Cloudy night with good seeing. Almost 2 hours lost due to technical difficulties and 2 hours lost due to cloud. Made productive use of our on-sky time given the conditions.

Data taken for:

2015-1-MLT-004 P0 RSS (Deriving the mass of the black holes in the core of active galaxies @romeroencarni1 @sand_dave)
2016-1-MLT-010 P0 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-039 P1 RSS (Observing unusual binaries containing a massive blue star and a hydrogen burning white dwarf)
2016-1-SCI-060 P1 RSS (Connecting timescales of star formation and AGN activity in galaxies)
2016-1-SCI-051 P3 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)
2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)
2016-1-SCI-057 P4 SCAM (x2) (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)
2016-1-SCI-052 P4 RSS (Stars with close-in planets: are the planets losing mass? Do they stimulate stellar flares?)

Night Log 2016-09-28

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A clear night with variable seeing. Lost two hours due to technical difficulties with the dome.

Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-010 P0 RSS (x3) (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (x2) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-SCI-024 P2 HRS (Hunting for Ultra-Metal Poor stars: a quest to find the first generation of stars)
2016-1-SCI-029 P2 HRS (Probing Supernovae Chemical Yields with Magellanic Cloud B-type Stars)
2016-1-SCI-055 P3 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)
2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)
2016-1-SCI-051 P3 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)

Night Log 2016-09-27

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others: Marissa, Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Night lost to high humidity. Sub-zero temperatures, got
some snow too. It was summer two days ago?
No science data taken.

Night Log 2016-09-26

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Whole night lost to high humidity and later clouds. No science.

Night Log 2016-09-25

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others: Jonathan for a while, Marissa on skype for BVIT

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Another full night with good conditions. However, this time had
a few technical niggles as well, lost a bit more than an hour to
these. We also made use of the perfectly clear and
photometric conditions to spend time on engineering tests for
the system throughput. On top of that still had time for many
science observations, data taken for:

2016-1-SCI-022 P1,P2 RSS (x4) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2016-1-SCI-061 P1 RSS (x2) (Study of ionized gas in galaxies where the centers are obscured by dust.)
2016-1-SCI-034 P1 RSS (Line profile variations in PKS 2135-14)

Night Log 2016-09-24

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others: Minna and group of friends

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Another productive night, with super-excellent seeing in the
beginning and the last hours of the night, and clear and dry
throughout. Lost all of 3 mins for problems, so lots of science:

2016-1-SCI-011 P1 RSS (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2016-1-SCI-060 P1 RSS (x2) (Connecting timescales of star formation and AGN activity in galaxies)
2016-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (x6) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-SCI-061 P1 RSS (Study of ionized gas in galaxies where the centers are obscured by dust.)
2016-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (x2) (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2016-1-SCI-044 P2 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)
2016-1-SCI-024 P2 HRS (Hunting for Ultra-Metal Poor stars: a quest to find the first generation of stars)

Night Log 2016-09-23

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


The smoothest of sailing. Excellent seeing in stable and dry
and dark and clear conditions all night. No problems at all.. almost.
Science delivered for, hopefully, happy customers
who ordered observations on these interesting topics:

2016-1-SCI-018 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of type Ia supernovae for investigations of the nature of dark energy)
2016-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-SCI-011 P1 RSS (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2016-1-SCI-044 P1 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)
2016-1-SCI-061 P1 RSS (Study of ionized gas in galaxies where the centers are obscured by dust.)
2016-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (x3) (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2016-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Orbital period search of possible binary system)
2016-1-MLT-010 P2 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)

Night Log 2016-09-22

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others: Keith

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear conditions in the beginning with mediocre seeing. Used it
for a couple of science targets and some on-sky engineering,
but humidity unfortunately forced us to close after 9.30pm already.

2016-1-SCI-049 P1 RSS (Confirmation and redshift determination of galaxy clusters)
2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)

Night Log 2016-09-21

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Excellent seeing in clear conditions until midnight, when humidity
forced us to close. Did some engineering tests before that,
as well as science, and even pretty pictures, for:

2016-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-1-SCI-058 P1 HRS (Testing the theoretical prediction about the spin of the most massive stars in a binary system.)
2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)

Night Log 2016-09-20

SA: Rosalind
SO: Thea
Others: Petri. Lisa, Tana, Rejane at start of night, Stephan and students from Germany.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A night of good seeing with some clouds. Much smoother operations than last night with both instruments working well. :)

Data taken for:
2016-1-MLT-010 P0 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-039 P1 RSS (x2) (Observing unusual binaries containing a massive blue star and a hydrogen burning white dwarf)
2016-1-SCI-032 P1 HRS (x5) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-SCI-049 P1 RSS (x2) (Confirmation and redshift determination of galaxy clusters)
2016-1-SCI-012 P2 RSS (Revealing evolved massive stars with Spitzer, WISE and SALT)
2015-2-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2016-1-SCI-022 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Calibrations:
Specphot standards for HRS (CAL_SPST)

Night Log 2016-09-19

SA: Rosalind
SO: Thea
Others: Lisa for a while.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A mostly clear night with stable seeing and some clouds. Quite a few technical niggles, and HRS unfortunately offline, but nevertheless productive with RSS. Kniazev targets really cleaning up tonight...now running out of options for bright moon!

Data taken for:

2016-1-SCI-049 P1 RSS (Confirmation and redshift determination of galaxy clusters)
2016-1-SCI-052 P1 RSS (Stars with close-in planets: are the planets losing mass? Do they stimulate stellar flares?)
2016-1-SCI-043 P2 RSS (x2) (Spectrophotometry of Magellanic symbiotic stars)
2016-1-SCI-051 P3 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)
2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x14) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-09-18

SA: Rosalind
SO: Thea
Others: Lisa

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A productive clear night with fairly good seeing, particularly over the second half of the night.

Data taken for:

2016-1-SCI-018 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of type Ia supernovae for investigations of the nature of dark energy)
2016-1-SCI-032 P1 HRS (x7) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6681, NGC 6584 and NGC 7099)
2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x5) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)
2016-1-SCI-006 P4 HRS (Probing winds from the center of the Milky Way (@astrocrawford))
2016-1-SCI-052 P4 RSS (Stars with close-in planets: are the planets losing mass? Do they stimulate stellar flares?)

Night Log 2016-09-17

SA: Rosalind
SO: Thea
Others: Lisa

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Most of the night was lost to bad weather, but we managed to fit in one observation before closing.

Data taken for:

2016-1-SCI-034 P1 RSS (Line profile variations in PKS 2135-14)

Night Log 2016-09-16

SA: Rosalind
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Entire night lost to bad weather.

Night Log 2016-09-15

SA: Rosalind
SO: Thea
Others: Etienne, Lisa

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


The night started off clear and windy, with good seeing but rapidly rising humidity. The first two hours were spent on engineering adjustments to the autocollimator. Only two observations before closing at 22:30.

Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)
2016-1-SCI-057 P4 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)

Night Log 2016-09-14

SA: Rosalind
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A clear night with good seeing (~1.1") but many technical issues throughout the night causing more than half of the night to be lost.

Data taken for:

2016-1-SCI-032 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-SCI-043 P2 RSS (Spectrophotometry of Magellanic symbiotic stars)
2016-1-SCI-051 P3 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)

Night Log 2016-09-13

SA: Rosalind
SO: Thea
Others: Ted, Graham Smith, Lisa. Jan, Lenka for a telescope tour at start of night.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Started out clear, but rising humidity forced us to close around midnight again. Some technical problems at the start of the night with very out of focus images that Tech Ops came up to sort out (thanks!).

Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (x3) (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x3) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)
2016-1-SCI-006 P4 HRS (Probing winds from the center of the Milky Way (@astrocrawford))

Night Log 2016-09-12

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Ros, Enrico, Paul

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Open for the first half of the night before humidity shut us down.

Data taken for:

2016-1-COM-007 P2 HRS (Commissionning data for HRS)
2016-1-SCI-022 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)
2016-1-SCI-028 P3 RSS (The Formation of Compact Stellar Systems - The connection between NSCs, UCDs and cEs.)
2016-1-SCI-055 P3 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)

Night Log 2016-09-11

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A beautiful photometric night with variable seeing. It was put to productive use, doing mostly very high priority science until high humidity forced us to close 2 hours before the end of the night. Used the closed dome time for weekly calibrations.

Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-1-MLT-010 P0 RSS (x2) (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-SCI-002 P1 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6681, NGC 6584 and NGC 7099)
2016-1-SCI-032 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2016-1-SCI-022 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)
2016-1-SCI-044 P4 RSS (Search for symbiotic stars in a dwarf galaxy NGC6822.)

Night Log 2016-09-10

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Paul & Jono (for slitmask), Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Another night of high humidity and a very small window of opportunity to do science.

Data taken for:

2016-1-SCI-002 P2 HRS (High resolution spectroscopic abundance measurements of RGBs in NGC 6681, NGC 6584 and NGC 7099)

Night Log 2016-09-09

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Keith, Jono, Paul, Timmy (all working on PFIS), Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


High humidity and technical difficulties claimed this night. We did make the most of the small amount of on-sky time with the instrument we had available.

Data taken for:

2016-1-SCI-049 P3 SCAM (Confirmation and redshift determination of galaxy clusters)
2016-1-SCI-057 P4 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)

Night Log 2016-09-08

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico, Kumiko, Jono

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Closed most of the night due to high humidity and clouds. More closed dome tests and calibrations taken.

Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Kinematics of Bulge Miras)
2016-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-09-07

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Ant (at start), Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Back to regular science operations with a few technical difficulties costing us ~3 hours. Otherwise a productive night with fair seeing and thin clouds.

Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-010 P0 RSS (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2016-1-DDT-004 P1 RSS (A possible 15-minute binary towards the Galactic Centre.)
2016-1-SCI-039 P1 RSS (Observing unusual binaries containing a massive blue star and a hydrogen burning white dwarf)
2016-1-SCI-034 P1 RSS (Line profile variations in PKS 2135-14)
2016-1-SCI-061 P2 RSS (Study of ionized gas in galaxies where the centers are obscured by dust.)
2015-2-MLT-006 P3 RSS (x2) (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2016-1-SCI-057 P4 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)

Night Log 2016-09-06

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Petri, Ant, Deneys

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


First science observations were done after the maintenance period. Several further on-sky image quality tests were also completed. So we declare SALT science ready!

Data taken for:

2016-1-MLT-010 P0 RSS (x2) (Follow up observations of transient sources)
2016-1-COM-007 P2 HRS (x2) (Commissionning data for HRS)

Night Log 2016-09-05

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Petri, Deneys

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Closed all night due to high humidity and dark clouds, allowing us to complete most of the outstanding closed dome tests required after the maintenance month.

Night Log 2016-09-04

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Petri, Deneys

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Open all night with steady seeing but cloudy. Got the opportunity to verify that the image quality after the service period is good. Many on-sky tests completed successfully.

Night Log 2016-09-03

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Petri, Deneys, Komiko visiting

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


We got 2 hours on-sky before high humidity forced us to close. Continued with closed-dome tests thereafter.

Night Log 2016-09-02

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Petri, Deneys, Thabelo (first hour)

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


High humidity kept us off sky, doing further functionality testing with the dome closed.

Night Log 2016-09-01

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Petri, Ant & Deneys. Dave to fix SCAM.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


High humidity cut our evening short very early on, but we could continue with our many closed dome tests that are necessary to verify our instruments and telescope are science ready.

Night Log 2016-08-31

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Tech Ops (Chris, Eben, Keith, Thabelo, Paul, Jono, Johan), Petri, Ant & Deneys, Lisa, Ockert

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Back on sky after a month of maintenance activities. The night was devoted to testing the functionality of the telescope and it's main instruments. Good progress was made and the first-light images were extremely rewarding.

SALT's back online!

What a difference 30 days can make...  The RSS was brought down on 1 August, it's been taken apart completely, extensively over-hauled & put back together.  So today it was time to get it back on top of the telescope!

Gone - almost without a trace!

Looking & working better in every way than it did when it came down, the spectrograph was wheeled out into the loading bay outside the spectrometer room.  

The lifting team getting everything set up

With RSS rigged up, released from the support frame & ready to ascend through the hatch in the floor, it was project leader (& very happy, but still anxious!) Ockert's cue to fire up the inspirational soundtrack :)

Cue the music!

The crafty scheme to pull back a day & thus restore the schedule was to lift the instrument with the detector cold.  That required keeping the cryo-cooler attached & running throughout most of the lift & installation.  It added a bit more complexity to an already daunting procedure, but it worked a treat as it allowed us to get on sky as soon as all of the cabling/fibres/hoses etc had been reconnected up there.

Cryotiger in tow this time!

An enthusiastic crowd was in place to take a last look as the spectrograph (& cryo-cooler!) paraded past the catwalk...

Quite a crowd gathered for the occasion

The structure was then rotated into place (by Ant down in the control room) & then with the landing zone within reach, the compressor was disconnected & taken back down to its igloo.

Time to disconnect the cryo-cooler

Dome crane operator Denville could then tweak the dome rotation & lower the RSS towards the tracker, to be guided down carefully by the many hands below. 

Being helped along for a smooth landing on the tracker

Timmy & Jono, perched on the edge of the world, could later crank down the chain hoists to slacken the lifting slings.

Try not to think about where Timmy was actually standing!

With all the life-support systems connected up top, the control room filled up as Fred did a coarse mirror alignment (a fine alignment was out of the question due to the high the wind).

Waiting to see whether the telescope really is back together again

The first pointing was to a spectacular target - M16, also known as the Eagle Nebula, a star-forming region in the constellation Serpens.  As usual, a picture was worth at least a thousand words!  It immediately showed that the telescope pointing's good, the image quality looks fine (given that we could not do a fine alignment of the primary because of the wind), even the guide probe mapping was still close enough to find a guide star.  

2 sec SALTICAM image of the Eagle Nebula!

Retracting the SALTICAM fold mirror in the payload then allowed the light to reach the RSS & that image looked great too...  

20 sec H-alpha image taken with RSS

A quick (5 sec) spectrum of a bright star in the field confirmed that the slitmask, grating & filter mechanisms are all working as they should too :)  There's plenty more testing & on-sky performance verification to be done, so now it's mostly over to Astro Ops to put everything through its paces & check that all's well before getting back to full science operations in a few days time (weather permitting)... 

We've blasted through August, so now it's getting Springy in Suthers

It's been an incredibly busy month up here.  Huge thanks & congratulations are in order for a superb team effort, & particularly to Ockert for doing a fantastic job of organising & leading such a challenging project!  We eag(er)ly await a photometric night to take throughput measurements!

Watch this space!