Monday, October 31, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-30

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

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Summary
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=> 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)

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-29

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

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Summary
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=> 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)

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-28

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

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Summary
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=> 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)

Friday, October 28, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-27

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

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Summary
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=> 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)

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-26

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

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Summary
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=> 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.)

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-25

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

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Summary
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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)

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-24

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael

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Summary
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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)

Monday, October 24, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-23

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael

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Summary
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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)

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-22

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael

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Summary
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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)

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-21

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael

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Summary
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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.

Friday, October 21, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-20

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Michael

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Summary
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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)

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-19

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

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Summary
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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)

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-18

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others: Encarni

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Summary
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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)

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-17

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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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)

Monday, October 17, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-16

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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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)

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-15

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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No observations tonight. Very thick cloud and high humidity.

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-14

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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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)

Friday, October 14, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-13

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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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)

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-12

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

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Summary
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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)

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-11

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

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Summary
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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)

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-10

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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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)

Monday, October 10, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-09

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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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)

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-08

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Could not open tonight, the weather was very bad.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-07

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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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)

Friday, October 7, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-06

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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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)

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-05

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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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)

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-04

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

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Summary
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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)

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-03

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

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Summary
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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)

Monday, October 3, 2016

Night Log 2016-10-02

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Enrico. Thabelo

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Summary
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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)

Sunday, October 2, 2016

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.

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Summary
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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)

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Night Log 2016-09-30

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

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Summary
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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)