Night Log 2024-11-29

SA: Alexei
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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=> Stable clear dark night with moderate seeing. Only high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (x3) (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2024-2-SCI-038 P2 RSS (x2) (Probing magnetic field strength of magnetic cataclysmic variables stars )
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-2-ORP-005 P2 HRS (Bright white dwarf RVs)
2024-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Study of the metallicity galaxies in voids)

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Night Log 2024-11-28

SA: Alexei
SO: Fred
Others: Roberta to study RSS spectroscopy

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Summary
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=> Very stable dark time night with moderate seeing and without any technical problems. Mainly high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-SCI-005 P1 RSS (x4) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2024-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (x2) (Study of the metallicity galaxies in voids)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2024-2-SCI-038 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength of magnetic cataclysmic variables stars )

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Night Log 2024-11-27

SA: Alexei
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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=> Unstable night with rising humidity which closed us in the middle of the night. Only few blocks were observed for that reason.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)

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Night Log 2024-11-26

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Lisa, Daniel H, Malcolm, Alexei, Roberta, Fred, Richard, Shan

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Summary
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Night lost to weather.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2024-11-25

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others: E10 (IO module)

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Summary
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Night lost to bad weather.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2024-11-24

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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Summary
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A frustrating night with poor seeing and some technical issues. We were limited to mostly low priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x5) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-SCI-028 P3 HRS (Probing the mode of accretion in Herbig Be stars.)
2024-2-SCI-034 P3 RSS (Characterizing the orbital parameters and accretion disk of an eclipsing high-mass X-ray binary)

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Night Log 2024-11-23

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Wimpie

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Summary
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We observed mostly P1 blocks tonight in good seeing conditions. A brief issue with the mirror was the only time lost in an otherwise smooth night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2024-2-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Near-infrared (and one optical) spectra of AGN)
2024-2-SCI-033 P1 RSS (Constraining the star formation history of the peculiar collisional ring galaxy AM0144-585)
2024-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)
2024-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

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Night Log 2024-11-22

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others: E10

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Summary
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We had a smooth night observing many high priority blocks, until the payload rudely cut our night short with a major failure that could not be recovered before twilight. We lost the final 2 hours of the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-MLT-003 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2024-2-SCI-039 P1 RSS (x2) (Studying GRGs to explore their jet dynamics and their influence on the evolution of host galaxies)
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2024-2-SCI-033 P1 RSS (Constraining the star formation history of the peculiar collisional ring galaxy AM0144-585)
2024-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (x2) (Study of the metallicity galaxies in voids)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

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Night Log 2024-11-21

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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Summary
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We managed to complete 6 blocks before the humidity closed us for the final few hours of the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Rutgers discretionary time.)
2024-1-MLT-006 P1 HRS (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2024-2-SCI-005 P1 RSS (x2) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)
2024-2-SCI-033 P1 RSS (Constraining the star formation history of the peculiar collisional ring galaxy AM0144-585)
2024-2-SCI-038 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength of magnetic cataclysmic variables stars )

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Night Log 2024-11-20

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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Summary
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We lost part of the night to thick cloud and then high humidity, but completed some high priority blocks when we were open. Not bad considering the storms earlier in the day and the forecast, which predicted we'd be closed all night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-SCI-039 P1 RSS (Studying GRGs to explore their jet dynamics and their influence on the evolution of host galaxies)
2024-2-SCI-010 P1 HRS (SALT/HRS observations of a gamma-ray bright HMXB in the LMC. )
2024-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (x2) (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2024-2-SCI-040 P2 RSS (Constraining the initial mass of the progenitor of the neutron star in 2SXPS J075542.5-293353)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

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Night Log 2024-11-19

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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Night lost to thick cloud.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2024-11-18

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others: Daniel, Lisa, Ant, Malcolm

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Summary
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A tale of two halves in terms of seeing tonight. The first half was excellent, sub-arcsecond at times. The second half was dreadful, limiting us to P4's. It was otherwise a very smooth night. We observed many blocks including a few higher priority blocks during the good seeing.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2024-2-SCI-010 P1 HRS (SALT/HRS observations of a gamma-ray bright HMXB in the LMC. )
2024-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Study of the metallicity galaxies in voids)
2024-2-SCI-040 P2 RSS (Constraining the initial mass of the progenitor of the neutron star in 2SXPS J075542.5-293353)
2024-2-SCI-021 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for fast-moving black holes )
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-SCI-034 P3 RSS (Characterizing the orbital parameters and accretion disk of an eclipsing high-mass X-ray binary)
2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-2-SCI-029 P4 RSS (x3) (Artificial intelligence identification of extragalactic sources)
2024-2-SCI-003 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2024-11-17

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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A clear night with good and stable seeing allowed us to complete some high priority blocks, despite a bright moon and a few technical glitches.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-SCI-002 P1 HRS (x3) (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2024-2-SCI-006 P1 HRS (Characterizing a stellar-merger remnant, V838 Mon.)
2024-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

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Night Log 2024-11-16

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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Another clear, full moon night with good seeing. We observed many blocks of mixed priority.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-MLT-003 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2024-2-SCI-006 P1 HRS (Characterizing a stellar-merger remnant, V838 Mon.)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x3) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-ORP-005 P3 HRS (Bright white dwarf RVs)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2024-2-SCI-003 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2024-11-15

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others: Thabelo

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Summary
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We had great weather tonight and average seeing, allowing us to complete a number of blocks of mixed priority.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-MLT-003 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x3) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2024-2-SCI-021 P3 RSS (Searching for fast-moving black holes )
2024-2-SCI-001 P4 HRS (Study of the properties of five extreme mass-ratio binaries)

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Night Log 2024-11-14

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others: Thabelo

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Summary
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Mostly low priority blocks observed again tonight due to variable seeing, bright moon and some cloud in the early morning. We lost a little time to a problem with the guide probes, but otherwise it was a full night of science.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-SCI-006 P1 HRS (Characterizing a stellar-merger remnant, V838 Mon.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x4) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-SCI-034 P3 RSS (Characterizing the orbital parameters and accretion disk of an eclipsing high-mass X-ray binary)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2024-2-SCI-011 P3 HRS (Observing hot and cool H-deficient stars to demonstrate evolution links.)

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Night Log 2024-11-13

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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A smooth start to our week. We observed mostly lower priority blocks due to variable seeing conditions and a bright moon, before closing to high humidity just before 1am.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-MLT-003 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x3) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-SCI-003 P4 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2024-11-12

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Thabelo, Lee, Austun

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Summary
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We had a productive night with clear skies and many blocks observed despite the poor seeing.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-SCI-011 P1 RSS (Observing hot and cool H-deficient stars to demonstrate evolution links.)
2024-2-ORP-005 P2 HRS (Bright white dwarf RVs)
2024-2-SCI-034 P3 RSS (Characterizing the orbital parameters and accretion disk of an eclipsing high-mass X-ray binary)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2024-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic monitoring of two unique red supergiants in the LMC)

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Night Log 2024-11-11

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Wimpie, Lisa, Lizette & SALT Board members,

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Summary
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We managed to observe a wide range of targets during the night despite the changeable seeing conditions.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2024-2-SCI-011 P1 RSS (Observing hot and cool H-deficient stars to demonstrate evolution links.)
2024-2-MLT-006 P2 HRS (HRS observations of a high mass binary system.)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-SCI-029 P4 RSS (Artificial intelligence identification of extragalactic sources)
2024-2-SCI-003 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

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Night Log 2024-11-10

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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Summary
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We were able to observe a few low to high priority blocks despite the changeable cloud cover, until the humidity caused us to close halfway through the night.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2024-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-SCI-003 P4 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2024-11-08

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Eben

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Summary
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We lost most of the night due to bad weather, but we managed to observe a P0 right at the end of the night (in non-optimal conditions) before some technical issues put an end to the observing.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-MLT-006 P0 HRS (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)

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Night Log 2024-11-06

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Wimpie, Lisa, Veronica

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Summary
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We had a tough night with technical problems and bad seeing, but we managed to observe a few blocks towards the end of the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-SCI-003 P4 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2024-2-SCI-029 P4 RSS (x2) (Artificial intelligence identification of extragalactic sources)
2024-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic monitoring of two unique red supergiants in the LMC)

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Night Log 2024-11-09

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Thabelo, Wimpie, Sunnyboy, Jean

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Summary
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There was poor seeing and some technical problems tonight but we managed to observe a few science blocks before the humidity & cloud caused us to close up early.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-SCI-003 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2024-11-07

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Shamin, Lisa, Wimipie, Thabelo, Jonathan, Eben, Nico

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Summary
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There was some varying cloud cover but the seeing got better as the night progressed and we were able to observe some high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 SCAM (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2024-1-MLT-006 P1 HRS (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-SCI-037 P4 HRS (Determination of temperatures and surface gravities of massive stars)
2024-2-SCI-029 P4 RSS (Artificial intelligence identification of extragalactic sources)

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Night Log 2024-11-05

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Moses and Nomzamo (Handover), Wimpie

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Summary
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We managed to complete 1 block before high humidity closed us for the rest of the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-SCI-003 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2024-11-04

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Lost the whole night to bad weather.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2024-11-03

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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We mananged to some a few blocks despite thick clouds closing us twice. In the end high humidity closed us again.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-MLT-006 P0 HRS (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2024-2-SCI-033 P1 RSS (Constraining the star formation history of the peculiar collisional ring galaxy AM0144-585)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-SCI-038 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength of magnetic cataclysmic variables stars )

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Night Log 2024-11-02

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Lost the entire night to bad weather.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2024-11-01

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Lost the whole night to bad weather.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2024-10-31

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Sibo, E10 (RSS grating)

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Summary
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We had another full night of observing. Unfortunately the grating became problematic, causing RSS to go offline for the remainder of the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-SCI-002 P2 RSS (Deep spectroscopy of faint, stellar shells in nearby in NGC 2865 & PGC 6240)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-1-MLT-006 P3 HRS (x4) (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2023-1-SCI-040 P3 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2019-1-MLT-008 P4 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2024-1-SCI-004 P4 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogueBuilding a new )

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