Night Log 2021-11-29

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Keith, Encarni for database/OPTI error

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Summary
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A productive clear, dark night with fairly good seeing. We did a number of high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2021-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2018-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2021-2-MLT-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Unravelling the gas and stellar kinematics of nearby starbursts and LIRGs)
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2020-2-MLT-003 P2 HRS (Follow-up of rare SB4 discovered in Gaia-ESO, GALAH and APOGEE)
2021-2-SCI-014 P2 RSS (Tracing the chemical and kinematic signatures of interactions in the MCs using RGB stars)
2021-1-MLT-005 P2 HRS (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)
2021-2-SCI-016 P2 HRS (Tracing the trajectory of a bright binary star system)

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Night Log 2021-11-28

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others:

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Summary
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Entire night lost to high humidity.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2021-11-27

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Danièl (for polarimetry calibrations), Liz

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Summary
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Entire night lost to weather - no science data taken.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2021-11-26

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Liz, Deneys and Richard

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Summary
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Entire night lost to rainy weather. We took the weekly HRS calibrations.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2021-11-25

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Deneys

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Summary
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The whole night was lost to bad weather - high winds initially, then high humidity and some rain. We attempted a P0 at the start of the night but unfortunately rejected it due to worsening seeing.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2021-11-24

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Danièl for polarimetry calibrations

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Summary
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A productive, clear start to the night, with two P0s, then mostly P2s in moderate seeing until high humidity closed us just before 1am.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-DDT-001 P0 RSS (Study of the environment of Radio galaxies)
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2020-2-MLT-009 P1 HRS (Spectroscopic monitoring of candidate white dwarf + Be star binaries.)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (x2) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2020-2-MLT-003 P2 HRS (Follow-up of rare SB4 discovered in Gaia-ESO, GALAH and APOGEE)
2021-1-SCI-008 P2 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)

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Night Log 2021-11-23

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Anthony

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Summary
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A frustrating night of weather. We had ominous looking clouds passing over all night, causing us to reject some block visits and continuously close and re-open the telescope. We managed 3 high priority blocks in a brief clear spell, with some good seeing.

Science data taken for:
2020-2-MLT-009 P1 HRS (Spectroscopic monitoring of candidate white dwarf + Be star binaries.)
2021-1-SCI-008 P2 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients)

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Night Log 2021-11-22

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Anthony (grating trim tuning)

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Summary
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Night lost to high humidity. Another RSS engineering test completed.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2021-11-21

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Entire night lost to weather. Closed-dome engineering test for RSS.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2021-11-20

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Liz

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Summary
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A very cloudy first half of the night gave way to high humidity after 1am. The seeing was generally poor for most of the time we were open. The cloud and poor seeing made acquisitions and guiding quite tricky at times. We completed 7 blocks of mid to low priorities.


Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (x3) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2021-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-2-SCI-028 P3 HRS (Abundance of Type II Cepheids)
2021-2-SCI-018 P4 RSS (Building a sample of AGN-dust dominated galaxies)

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Night Log 2021-11-19

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Danièl (polarimetry cals), Liz

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Summary
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We had a good night, free from technical issues - thanks day team! Despite a full moon and some variable seeing, we managed to clear out a good chunk of P2 blocks from the queue.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients)
2021-1-MLT-005 P2 HRS (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (x3) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2021-1-SCI-007 P2 HRS (Probing the binarity of a sample of galactic proto-planetary nebulae)
2021-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-2-SCI-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopic orbits for two tidally tilted pulsators)
2018-2-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2021-1-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)

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Night Log 2021-11-18

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Dani

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Summary
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A good night weather-wise and the first science observations taken remotely from the UK! Despite a persistent issue with the FIF guide probe we were able to complete 13 blocks, mostly P1 and P2.

Science data taken for:
2021-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2021-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Spectroscopically observing a pulsating star to form a RV curve @Simon_Ebo)
2021-2-SCI-016 P2 HRS (Tracing the trajectory of a bright binary star system)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (x6) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2021-1-SCI-008 P2 HRS (x2) (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)

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Night Log 2021-11-17

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Nico, Bryne, Deneys

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Summary
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Tonight we set a record for the most remote observing done with SALT, with me signing in from the UK! Unfortunately, this milestone was dampened (literally) by persistent rain in Sutherland, meaning we could not open. Perhaps fitting that the first night of observations from the UK was washed out with rain ;-)

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2021-11-16

SA: Solohery
SO: Veronica
Others: Tech Ops

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Summary
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A night with clear skies and reasonably good seeing. We started a bit late but we managed to complete 10 blocks of mixed priorities.


Science data taken for:
2021-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)
2021-1-MLT-005 P2 HRS (x2) (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (x3) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2019-1-MLT-008 P3 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)

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Night Log 2021-11-15

SA: Solohery
SO: Veronica
Others: Thabelo, Deneys, Kgothatso

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Summary
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A high "articulation motor temperature" warning on PCON was with us tonight but we managed to complete 16 of mostly HRS blocks of mixed priorities.

Science data taken for:
2021-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-1-MLT-005 P1 HRS (x3) (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)
2021-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Spectroscopically observing a pulsating star to form a RV curve @Simon_Ebo)
2021-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Revealing the nature of radio galaxies behind the Magellanic Clouds)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (x2) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2021-2-SCI-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopic orbits for two tidally tilted pulsators)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2021-2-SCI-016 P2 HRS (Tracing the trajectory of a bright binary star system)
2021-1-SCI-008 P2 HRS (x2) (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)
2021-1-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)
2020-2-MLT-007 P3 HRS (HRS observations of a high mass binary system.)
2019-1-MLT-008 P3 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)

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Night Log 2021-11-14

SA: Solohery
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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We had reasonable and stable seeing. We managed to complete 12 blocks of mixed priorities.


Science data taken for:
2021-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-2-SCI-019 P1 RSS (x3) (Verification of the nature of variable central stars of PNe in the LMC)
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2021-2-SCI-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopic orbits for two tidally tilted pulsators)
2021-1-MLT-005 P2 HRS (x3) (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)
2021-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)
2020-2-MLT-003 P2 HRS (Follow-up of rare SB4 discovered in Gaia-ESO, GALAH and APOGEE)

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Night Log 2021-11-13

SA: Solohery
SO: Veronica
Others: Liz

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Summary
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We managed to complete 1 block for tonight. We lost the rest of the night due to the weather.


Science data taken for:
2021-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)

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Night Log 2021-11-12

SA: Solohery
SO: Veronica
Others: Liz

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Summary
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We managed to complete 9 blocks of mixed high priorities.


Science data taken for:
2021-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2021-2-SCI-007 P1 HRS (monitoring new roAp stars for binary companions @dlhwp)
2021-2-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Revealing the nature of radio galaxies behind the Magellanic Clouds)
2021-2-SCI-019 P1 RSS (x2) (Verification of the nature of variable central stars of PNe in the LMC)
2021-1-MLT-002 P1 RSS (A study of the kinematics, ISM and stellar properties of MHONGOOSE galaxies.)
2021-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Spectroscopically observing a pulsating star to form a RV curve @Simon_Ebo)
2021-1-SCI-008 P2 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)

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Night Log 2021-11-11

SA: Solohery
SO: Veronica
Others: Liz, Thabelo

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Summary
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We had reasonably clear skies and stable seeing. Humidity closed us 1 hour before twilight but we managed to observe blocks of mixed priorities.

Science data taken for:
2021-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-1-MLT-005 P1 HRS (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)
2021-2-SCI-019 P1 RSS (x3) (Verification of the nature of variable central stars of PNe in the LMC)
2021-2-MLT-001 P1 RSS (Unravelling the gas and stellar kinematics of nearby starbursts and LIRGs)
2021-1-SCI-022 P2 HRS (Study of the properties of an extreme-amplitude heartbeat star.)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2021-1-SCI-008 P2 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)

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Night Log 2021-11-10

SA: Solohery
SO: Veronica
Others: Deneys

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Summary
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No science data were taken tonight. Clouds forced us to close early in the evening and we were not able to reopen and observe.


No science data taken.

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Night Log 2021-11-09

SA: Danièl
SO: Thea
Others: Keith, Deneys

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Summary
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We had a few technical gremlins lurking about but managed to sort those out. We managed to observe a number of blocks, including 2 P0s.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2021-1-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-2-MLT-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Unravelling the gas and stellar kinematics of nearby starbursts and LIRGs)
2021-2-SCI-015 P1 HRS (Looking for changes in the circumstellar disc of SXP348)
2021-2-SCI-011 P1 RSS (Optical followup of MALS targets.)
2021-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Spectroscopically observing a pulsating star to form a RV curve @Simon_Ebo)
2021-1-SCI-022 P2 HRS (Study of the properties of an extreme-amplitude heartbeat star.)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2021-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)

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Night Log 2021-11-08

SA: Danièl
SO: Thea
Others: Keith, Ant, Deneys

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Summary
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Humidity kept us closed tonight.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2021-11-07

SA: Danièl
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Night lost to clouds.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2021-11-06

SA: Danièl
SO: Thea
Others: Deneys

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Summary
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We had a full night of observing, with no technical problems. We managed to complete a number of high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2021-2-SCI-019 P1 RSS (Verification of the nature of variable central stars of PNe in the LMC)
2021-2-MLT-001 P1 RSS (Unravelling the gas and stellar kinematics of nearby starbursts and LIRGs)
2021-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Spectroscopically observing a pulsating star to form a RV curve @Simon_Ebo)
2021-1-SCI-022 P2 HRS (Study of the properties of an extreme-amplitude heartbeat star.)
2021-1-SCI-008 P2 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2021-2-SCI-021 P3 RSS (The SAGA Survey (https://sagasurvey.org))

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Night Log 2021-11-05

SA: Danièl
SO: Thea
Others: Deneys

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Summary
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We managed to complete 3 blocks before humidity closed us for the rest of the night.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2021-2-SCI-004 P2 RSS (Probing the environment inside Extreme Emission Line Dwarf Galaxies)

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Night Log 2021-11-04

SA: Danièl
SO: Thea
Others: Keith

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Summary
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We had a problem free night, where we completed a number of high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-SCI-019 P1 RSS (Verification of the nature of variable central stars of PNe in the LMC)
2021-2-SCI-011 P1 RSS (x2) (Optical followup of MALS targets.)
2019-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (x2) (Using MeerKAT and SALT to study the faint radio emission from quasars)
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2021-2-MLT-001 P1 RSS (Unravelling the gas and stellar kinematics of nearby starbursts and LIRGs)
2021-1-MLT-002 P1 RSS (A study of the kinematics, ISM and stellar properties of MHONGOOSE galaxies.)
2021-1-SCI-022 P2 HRS (Study of the properties of an extreme-amplitude heartbeat star.)

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Night Log 2021-11-03

SA: Danièl
SO: Thea
Others: Encarni, Moses and HET team, Waanie (for ELS)

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Summary
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We had a group from HET join us tonight for a remote observing demo of SALT. The seeing was quite stable tonight, we completed a number of high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-SCI-004 P1 RSS (Probing the environment inside Extreme Emission Line Dwarf Galaxies)
2019-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Using MeerKAT and SALT to study the faint radio emission from quasars)
2020-2-SCI-042 P1 RSS (x2) (Finding young stars and their planets)
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2021-2-SCI-021 P1 RSS (The SAGA Survey (https://sagasurvey.org))
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2021-2-SCI-018 P4 RSS (Building a sample of AGN-dust dominated galaxies)

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Night Log 2021-11-02

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Etienne, Paul Booysen

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Summary
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Technical problems with RSS forced us to observe only with HRS tonight, but we managed to do a number of high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2021-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Spectroscopically observing a pulsating star to form a RV curve @Simon_Ebo)
2021-2-SCI-015 P1 HRS (Looking for changes in the circumstellar disc of SXP348)
2021-1-MLT-005 P2 HRS (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)
2021-2-SCI-016 P2 HRS (Tracing the trajectory of a bright binary star system)
2021-1-SCI-022 P2 HRS (Study of the properties of an extreme-amplitude heartbeat star.)
2021-1-SCI-008 P2 HRS (x3) (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)

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Night Log 2021-11-01

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Clouds and high humidity kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2021-10-31

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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A rather frustrating night with lots of rejected blocks due to clouds. We managed to get a few high blocks observed through the gaps in the clouds.

Science data taken for:
2019-2-MLT-004 P2 HRS (x3) (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2021-1-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Tracing the history of extreme helium stars)

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