Night Log 2025-10-22

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: JC & family, Wimpie, Nico

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Summary
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We were closed for most of the night due to thick cloud, but managed to complete 5 blocks after it cleared up.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-022 P0 RSS (Studying the spectroscopy of three seperate regions in NGC2467.)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)

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Night Log 2025-10-21

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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=> Very nice and stable dark night with very good and good seeing. Practically, only high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 SCAM (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-002 P1 RSS (x2) (Constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales)
2024-1-SCI-036 P1 RSS (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2024-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)

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Night Log 2025-10-20

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Stable dark night with slowly rising humidity and degrading seeing. Mostly high priority blocks were observed during this night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-MLT-007 P0 RSS (Rutgers discretionary time.)
2024-2-LSP-002 P1 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2023-2-MLT-002 P1 RSS (x2) (Constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales)
2025-1-MLT-005 P1 RSS (Study the most metal-poor void dwarf galaxies)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2025-10-19

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Rising humidity closed us about midnight. Few high priority blocks were observed during first half of the night.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-002 P1 RSS (Constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales)
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients)

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Night Log 2025-10-18

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Stable dark night with good seeing and rising humidity. Only high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-028 P1 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2023-2-MLT-002 P1 RSS (Constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales)
2024-2-LSP-002 P1 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2025-1-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Probing glaxy evolution using large scale gas flows around galaxies)
2025-2-MLT-004 P2 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants)

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Night Log 2025-10-17

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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=> This night was completely lost due to bad weather.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2025-10-16

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Unstable dark night with rising humidity and from moderate to bad seeing. Most of observed blocks were low priority blocks for this reason. Anyway, one P0 was observed as well.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-026 P2 RSS (x2) (Measuring chemical abundances in the Magellanic Bridge; a glimpse of the past in nearby space. )
2024-1-SCI-036 P2 RSS (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-016 P3 RSS (x2) (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2025-1-SCI-005 P3 RSS (Variations of Dark Matter Fraction among Galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2025-10-15

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Very stable and clear night with very good seeing and without any technical issues. Only high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-002 P1 RSS (x2) (Constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2025-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (x2) (Study the most metal-poor void dwarf galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Probing glaxy evolution using large scale gas flows around galaxies)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-GWE-001 P2 RSS (Chasing Down Candidates in BBH Merger 250927ck)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)

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Night Log 2025-10-14

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Anthony, Daniel, Alexei, Austun

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

We only managed to observe a few blocks before variable cloud cover and high humidity caused us to close.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-002 P1 RSS (Constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2024-2-LSP-002 P1 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2025-10-13

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Sibo, Thabelo, Michael

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

We had a mostly clear night with reasonable seeing and we observed many high priority blocks until an unexpected rise in the humidity closed us.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-LSP-002 P1 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2024-1-SCI-036 P2 RSS (x2) (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)

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Night Log 2025-10-12

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Gourab

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

We only managed to complete one block before bad weather (thick cloud and high humidity) kept us closed for the rest of the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-ORP-001 P3 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)

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Night Log 2025-10-11

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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Summary
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Lots of thick cloud tonight, we tried and tried but only managed to complete one block.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)

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Night Log 2025-10-10

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Sibo, Anthony

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Summary
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The night was affected by thick cloud, but inbetween it we managed to observe a few high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (Age Dating UMa)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2025-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (x2) (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )

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Night Log 2025-10-09

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Michael, Thabelo, Gourab

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

We had to contend with variable cloud cover and seeing for most of the night, but we managed to observe many mid to low priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-LSP-001 P2 NIR (x4) (Study of star formation quenching in post-starburst galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-025 P2 NIR (Near-infrared (and one optical) spectra of AGN)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-010 P3 HRS (Doppler imaging of the unexplored Southern Ap star)

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Night Log 2025-10-08

SA: Moses
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Sibo, Gourab, Michael (for TimDimm), Sam

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Summary
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We had clear skies and stable seeing for most of the night and we were able to observe many blocks of mixed priorities.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-LSP-001 P1 NIR (x2) (Study of star formation quenching in post-starburst galaxies)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x3) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (Study of the properties of five extreme mass-ratio binaries)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (x3) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)

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Night Log 2025-10-07

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Thabelo and Sam (tracker)

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Summary
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Technical issues related to the tracker caused us to loose the latter part of the evening and close up.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-010 P3 HRS (x2) (Doppler imaging of the unexplored Southern Ap star)

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Night Log 2025-10-06

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Humidity kept us closed for the larger part of the night. We had to perform an alignment and with the remaining time we managed to complete 2 blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2025-10-05

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: E10 (Fold mirrror)

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

Some technical issues and bad weather made observing difficult tonight, we managed to complete only 3 blocks, including a P0.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning )
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)

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Night Log 2025-10-04

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Strong winds in the first part of the night and high humidity in the latter caused some downtime. We were able to complete 5 blocks in between.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-MLT-004 P4 RSS (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)

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Night Log 2025-10-03

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Sam & E10 (HRS & RSS), Shamiel (EDS)

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Summary
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We had a full night. Technical issues and bad seeing kept us on our toes. Thankfully both dissapear for the 2nd half of the night and we managed to observe two high priority blocks, including a GW candidate.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-GWE-001 P2 RSS (Chasing Down Candidates in BBH Merger 250927ck)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (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)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

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Night Log 2025-10-02

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Moses (for SMI tests)

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Summary
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The seeing has been horrendous tonight and was above 3.5" most of the times. We had some gaps in the night due to this.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-MLT-003 P4 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-012 P4 RSS (x5) (Artificial intelligence identification of extragalactic sources)

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Night Log 2025-10-01

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Sam (glycol)

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

Clouds and high humidity kept us closed for the night.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2025-09-30

SA: Rudi
SO: Austun
Others: Danièl (handover), Sam, Michael and E10

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Summary
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A full night of observing in the end. Stable seeing conditions with a relatively strong wind the entire night. Mostly higher priority blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Near-infrared (and one optical) spectra of AGN)
2023-1-SCI-040 P1 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (x4) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-005 P3 RSS (Variations of Dark Matter Fraction among Galaxies)

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Night Log 2025-09-29

SA: Rudi
SO: Austun
Others:

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

A relatively good night. Some variable seeing at the start leading to a short period of high humidity that kept us closed. A change in the wind direction and we could open again to end the night. Mostly higher priority blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning )
2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x6) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2025-09-28

SA: Rudi
SO: Austun
Others:

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

We attempted one block tonight but bad seeing forced us to stop. High humidity and ridge cloud a short while later forced us to close.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2025-09-27

SA: Rudi
SO: Austun
Others: Kevin, Willy Benz

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

The clouds kept us closed for a large part of the night. We managed to observe a few blocks in the middle and again at the end of the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
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 2025-09-26

SA: Rudi
SO: Austun
Others:

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

The clouds forced us to close for a large part of the night and made observing difficult throughout. We observed mostly brighter and lower priority blocks due to the weather.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-1-ORP-001 P3 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x6) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2025-09-25

SA: Rudi
SO: Austun
Others:

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

A full night of observing with no downtime at all. A good mix of priorities observed.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Study the most metal-poor void dwarf galaxies)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-001 P2 RSS (SALT Spectra of Transients)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2024-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (Study of the properties of five extreme mass-ratio binaries)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2025-1-SCI-011 P3 RSS (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

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Night Log 2025-09-24

SA: Rudi
SO: Austun
Others:

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

We managed to get a few blocks observed before the clouds and high humidity forced us to close with about half of the night remaining.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-SCI-040 P2 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-011 P3 RSS (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2025-1-MLT-006 P3 HRS (Search for binary post-AGB stars.)
2024-1-ORP-001 P3 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2025-09-23

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Austun

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

Clouds and high humidity kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2025-09-22

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

A full night of observing in very good conditions. We had sub-arcsec seeing for most of the night and very little technical downtime.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-002 P0 RSS (Constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales)
2023-2-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2025-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Study the most metal-poor void dwarf galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (x2) (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2025-1-SCI-015 P2 RSS (x2) (Probing the large-scale gas flows im and around galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2024-1-ORP-001 P3 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2024-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)

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Night Log 2025-09-21

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Clouds, rain, strong winds and high humidity kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2025-09-20

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: E10

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

We managed to get a few blocks observed through some clouds for the first half of the night. It cleared for a little while after midnight, but the clouds came back and forced us to close early.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning )
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Study the most metal-poor void dwarf galaxies)
2024-1-ORP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2025-09-19

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Rudi

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

Night lost to cloud.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2025-09-18

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: E10, Dev, Nico

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

We had some technical issues with the mirror at the start of the night, but once we got under way it was a fairly smooth night. The guider IQ was slightly worse than the last few nights, but that was most likely seeing rather than mirror related.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Study the most metal-poor void dwarf galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-009 P2 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

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Night Log 2025-09-17

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

A full night of science with clear skies and good seeing throughout. We did a much needed throughput test in the middle of the night. Several high priority blocks completed.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2023-2-MLT-002 P1 RSS (Constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales)
2019-1-COM-001 P1 SCAM (Burst-mirror throughput test )
2025-1-SCI-026 P1 RSS (Measuring chemical abundances in the Magellanic Bridge; a glimpse of the past in nearby space. )
2025-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-SCI-015 P2 RSS (Probing the large-scale gas flows im and around galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2025-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (x2) (Study the most metal-poor void dwarf galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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Night Log 2025-09-16

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

Night lost to weather.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2025-09-15

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

Night lost to weather.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2025-09-14

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

Another night of great seeing, albeit with thin cloud this time. We had a full night of science.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-ORP-001 P2 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-008 P2 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2024-1-SCI-036 P2 RSS (x2) (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-MLT-006 P3 HRS (Search for binary post-AGB stars.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-13

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

A beautiful, clear night with fabulous seeing and a well behaved telescope. Many high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-001 P0 RSS (x2) (SALT Spectra of Transients)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2024-1-ORP-001 P1 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-020 P2 RSS (Study the role of Studying Star Formation in HI-Detected Galaxies in the Fornax Cluster)
2024-1-MLT-010 P2 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x3) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-005 P3 RSS (Variations of Dark Matter Fraction among Galaxies)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-12

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

We lost the first few hours to thick cloud, but had excellent seeing when we did open. We observed mostly high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-SCI-001 P0 RSS (SALT Spectra of Transients)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2025-1-SCI-008 P2 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2024-2-SCI-013 P2 RSS (HERBS-138 NIR mapping. Backup: zlens for HERBS-24 and HERBS-28.)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2025-1-SCI-010 P3 HRS (Doppler imaging of the unexplored Southern Ap star)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-11

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Wimpie

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

We lost most of the night to very poor seeing & high humidity, only completing one block.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-10

SA: Lee
SO: Nomzamo
Others: UCT student groups

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

Good weather and modest seeing allowed us to complete several blocks tonight. These were mostly of lower priority due to the bright moon. We lost a small amount of time to technical issues, but otherwise had a good night.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-ORP-001 P0 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2024-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (Study of the properties of five extreme mass-ratio binaries)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x3) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (x3) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-09

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Thabelo (HRS), Lee and Nomzamo (handover)

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

We had some technical issues tonight but managed to complete a number of blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x3) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-010 P3 HRS (Doppler imaging of the unexplored Southern Ap star)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x3) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (Study of the properties of five extreme mass-ratio binaries)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2025-1-SCI-018 P4 HRS (delta Sct Ap stars)
2024-1-MLT-010 P4 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-08

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Thabelo

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

High humidity kept us closed for the night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-07

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Thabelo

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

The weather was perfect to see the moon eclipse and experience the blood moon. We managed to complete several blocks, mostly low priority. High humidity closed us two hours before twilight.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x4) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (Study of the properties of five extreme mass-ratio binaries)
2025-1-MLT-006 P3 HRS (Search for binary post-AGB stars.)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2025-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-SCI-018 P4 HRS (delta Sct Ap stars)
2025-1-SCI-003 P4 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-06

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Thick clouds closed us for the first part of the night, but cleared after midnight. We managed to complete several blocks, mostly low priorities.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-031 P2 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-010 P3 HRS (Doppler imaging of the unexplored Southern Ap star)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-MLT-004 P4 RSS (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)
2025-1-SCI-012 P4 RSS (Artificial intelligence identification of extragalactic sources)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-05

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

We lost the whole night to high humidity and had some issues with the mirror alignment at the start of the night, we only managed to complete 1 block.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (Study of the properties of five extreme mass-ratio binaries)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-04

SA: Antoine
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Thick clouds forced us to close early, we managed to observe only one block.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-DDT-005 P0 HRS (High-res spectra of the first ever high-mass CV)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-03

SA: Antoine
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

We lost some time at the beginning of the night due to thick clouds. The first part of the night the seeing was unstable, but in the second part we had good seeing. Nevertheless, we managed to observe a substantial number of blocks with mixed priorities.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-001 P0 RSS (SALT Spectra of Transients)
2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2023-1-SCI-040 P1 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-008 P3 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-02

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others: Thabelo and Sam

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

A full night of observing. However, the seeing was unstable during the observations.We had some Technical problems but the rest of the night went well with many blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-DDT-005 P0 HRS (High-res spectra of the first ever high-mass CV)
2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2025-1-SCI-020 P2 RSS (Study the role of Studying Star Formation in HI-Detected Galaxies in the Fornax Cluster)
2025-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-009 P3 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2025-1-SCI-010 P3 HRS (Doppler imaging of the unexplored Southern Ap star)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-09-01

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others: Thabelo (Online)

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

A full night of observing. We had some Technical problems but the rest of the night went well with many blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-002 P0 RSS (Constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales)
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x9) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-009 P3 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-31

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others: Thabelo (online)

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

High humidity forced us to close, but we were able to observe a good number of blocks.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (x2) (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2025-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-009 P3 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P4 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-30

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Another full night of observing with a really good and stable seeing. Good number of blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2024-1-SCI-036 P1 RSS (x2) (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (x3) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-29

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others:

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

We managed to get a full night of observing with a really good and stable seeing. Good number of high priority blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2023-2-MLT-002 P0 RSS (Constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales)
2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2025-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning )
2025-1-SCI-028 P1 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2025-1-DDT-004 P1 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopy of the new interstellar object 3I/ATLAS)
2025-1-MLT-002 P1 RSS (x3) (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)
2024-2-MLT-002 P1 RSS (MeerKAT follow-up study of gas-rich galaxies in the Fornax cluster. )
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-28

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Rain, High humidity and clouds kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-27

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others: Lisa

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

We had a productive night to start the week; however, the seeing was unstable during the observations. Nevertheless, we managed to observe a substantial number of blocks with mixed priorities.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-COM-002 P0 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2025-1-DDT-004 P1 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopy of the new interstellar object 3I/ATLAS)
2025-1-SCI-014 P1 RSS (Spatially resolved optical spectra of post-starburst galaxies )
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2025-1-SCI-028 P1 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2025-1-SCI-016 P3 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-26

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Antoine, Austun

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

A full night of observing. We had some clouds at the start of the night but it cleared after about 2 hours. We had some problems with the primary mirror in the beginning, but the rest of the night went well with many high priority blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-COM-002 P0 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2024-1-SCI-036 P1 RSS (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2025-1-SCI-016 P3 RSS (x2) (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2024-2-SCI-025 P4 RSS (x2) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-25

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

We managed to get a full night of observing with some really bad and variable seeing in the first half of the night. The second half was much more stable. Good number of high priority blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-SCI-026 P1 RSS (Measuring chemical abundances in the Magellanic Bridge; a glimpse of the past in nearby space. )
2025-1-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2024-1-ORP-001 P3 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-011 P3 RSS (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2023-2-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-MLT-004 P4 RSS (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-24

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Wimpie, Nico, Eben

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

We had some technical issues at the start of the night and we were fighting with the clouds for the rest of the night. Eventually the clouds took victory and we closed up about 2 hours before the end of the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-1-ORP-001 P0 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-23

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

High humidity and clouds kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-22

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

High humidity and strong wind kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-21

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

High humidity forced us to closed early, we managed to observe only one block.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-ORP-001 P3 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-20

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

We managed to get a few blocks observed between the clouds, high wind speeds and high humidity. Very little technical downtime.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning )
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (x2) (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2024-1-SCI-036 P2 RSS (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-19

SA: Narges
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Rudi, Thabelo, Sunnyboy

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

A full night with just a little technical downtime. We observed several high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 SCAM (Followup of Transients)
2024-1-ORP-001 P1 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-MLT-005 P1 RSS (Study the most metal-poor void dwarf galaxies)
2023-1-SCI-040 P1 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2024-1-SCI-036 P1 RSS (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (x3) (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2024-1-MLT-007 P3 HRS (Long-term monitoring of the first known blue large-amplitude pulsator in a binary)
2025-1-SCI-030 P3 HRS (High resolution spectroscopy of asteroseismic targets)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-18

SA: Narges
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Sunnyboy, Thabelo

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

It was a full and challenging night. We got various technical issues but managed to observe several blocks including two P0s, one of which was my first SMI observation and so long!

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2024-1-SCI-036 P1 RSS (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2025-1-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-SCI-030 P3 HRS (High resolution spectroscopy of asteroseismic targets)
2024-1-ORP-001 P3 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-17

SA: Narges
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Thabelo

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

A full night with some interruptions due to technical downtime. We observed several high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-1-SCI-036 P1 RSS (x2) (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2025-1-SCI-031 P1 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2024-1-ORP-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-16

SA: Narges
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

We lost a few hours at the beginning of the night due to high humidity, but managed to observe several high priority blocks including a P0.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (Age Dating UMa)
2024-1-SCI-036 P1 RSS (x2) (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-031 P1 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-009 P2 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-15

SA: Narges
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

Lost the whole night due to high humidity.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-14

SA: Narges
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Thabelo, Sunnyboy

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

A full night with thin clouds and some technical downtime. We observed several high priority blocks including a P0.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-1-SCI-036 P1 RSS (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2025-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (Age Dating UMa)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-13

SA: Narges
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

A full night with some downtime due to thick clouds. We observed several high priority blocks including a P0.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-1-SCI-036 P1 RSS (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2023-1-SCI-040 P1 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2025-1-SCI-010 P3 HRS (Doppler imaging of the unexplored Southern Ap star)
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)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-12

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: JC and Zwido (in control), Narges, Nomzamo, Anthony, Daniel, Lisa, Phelokazi.

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

A very long night of observations with moderate seeing. We observed several blocks including three P0s.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2024-1-LSP-001 P1 NIR (x2) (Study of star formation quenching in post-starburst galaxies)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2023-1-SCI-040 P2 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2025-1-MLT-006 P3 HRS (Search for binary post-AGB stars.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-11

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: JC and Zwido in control, Waanie

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

A stable, good night with mostly thin clouds, good seeing and bright Moon. We observed several high priority blocks and a significant number of P2 and/or P3 blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x3) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2025-1-SCI-019 P3 HRS (Study of accretion in high mass stars)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (x3) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-10

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: JC & Zwido in control

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

It was a nice clear night. We observed many stars using HRS as well as 2 supernovae with RSS.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning )
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x4) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (x2) (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2025-1-MLT-006 P3 HRS (Search for binary post-AGB stars.)
2024-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (Study of the properties of five extreme mass-ratio binaries)
2024-1-MLT-007 P3 HRS (Long-term monitoring of the first known blue large-amplitude pulsator in a binary)
2025-1-SCI-023 P3 HRS (Mapping of accretion Hot spot in ExLupi)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-09

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: JC, Zwido, Lisa, Antoine, Wimpie, SALT Ghost

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

Lost the whole night due to bad weather - rain, wind stormy weather.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-08

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: JC, Zwido

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

Lost the whole night due to bad weather - thick clouds.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-07

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: Zwido, JC, Taygan

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

The night was affected by cloud cover, but we managed to observe a mix of low and high priority blocks before thicker cloud cover caused us to close for the second half of the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (x2) (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-06

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: Zwido & JC for training; Wimpie, Daniel

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

We had a good night with relatively stable seeing and good weather and we managed to observe a good mix of high and low priority blocks, plus some good training done as well.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2023-1-COM-002 P1 RSS (Observing the Moon for polarimetry calibrations)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-LSP-001 P1 NIR (x2) (Study of star formation quenching in post-starburst galaxies)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-05

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others: Moses, Zwido, JC, Lisa, Malcolm

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

Night lost to bad weather.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-04

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others: Michael

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

The weather closed us early on, though we did manage to squeeze in 6 blocks before it got us, including a P0.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-03

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Entire night lost to high winds and cloud.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-02

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Variable cloud made life very difficult for us tonight. We had to close twice because the cloud was too thick to observe. We were limited to low priority blocks when we were open, and had to increase the exposure time in many cases to account for the variable cloud cover.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x4) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (x3) (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-08-01

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others:

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

A very good night in which we completed 19 blocks, mostly high priority. We had excellent seeing throughout, excellent delivered image quality and a smooth night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-COM-002 P0 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 SCAM (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-006 P1 RSS (Spectroscopy of giant double-double radio galaxy )
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (x2) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-ORP-001 P1 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-028 P1 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2023-1-SCI-040 P3 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-31

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others: Wimpie, E10

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

A clear and cold night with some spells of good seeing. We lost about 4 hours early on to high humidity, but observed several blocks after it dropped again. A few minor technical issues, but otherwise a good night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (x2) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2023-1-SCI-040 P1 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2025-1-SCI-006 P1 RSS (Spectroscopy of giant double-double radio galaxy )
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2025-1-SCI-008 P2 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-30

SA: Lee
SO: Austun
Others: Antoine (SMI testing)

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

Night lost to strong winds, high humidity and cloud.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-29

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others: Lee, Austun

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

High humidity, clouds, rain and high wind speeds kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-28

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others: Michael, Thabelo

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

Full night of observing. Some technical problems prevented us from using the FIF guider, but we still managed to observe a number of high priority targets.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-009 P1 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2025-1-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Study the role of Studying Star Formation in HI-Detected Galaxies in the Fornax Cluster)
2025-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2025-1-SCI-011 P3 RSS (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2025-1-SCI-016 P3 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2025-1-SCI-008 P3 RSS (x2) (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2024-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-27

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others: Michael, Thabelo

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

A full night of observing with a few technical issues, but not a lot of time lost on the problems. Mostly high priority blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-1-SCI-040 P1 HRS (x2) (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2025-1-SCI-024 P1 RSS (Probing glaxy evolution using large scale gas flows around galaxies)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-009 P1 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2024-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-26

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

Another good stable night, with a short break in the middle due to high humidity. Mostly high priority blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x4) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Study the role of Studying Star Formation in HI-Detected Galaxies in the Fornax Cluster)
2025-1-SCI-031 P2 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2025-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2025-1-SCI-030 P3 HRS (High resolution spectroscopy of asteroseismic targets)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-25

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

A full stable night of observing with good seeing throughout (even though the prediction was for the humidity to force us to close). Mostly high priority blocks observed, including 4 P0's.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x5) (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2024-2-SCI-013 P1 RSS (HERBS-138 NIR mapping. Backup: zlens for HERBS-24 and HERBS-28.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Orbit of a triaxial pulsator)
2025-1-SCI-008 P2 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2025-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-24

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

High humidity prevented us from opening up tonight.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-23

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

A relatively good night. Some clouds and rain in the middle of the night and some clouds towards the end of the night make things interesting. Many high priority blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-015 P1 RSS (Probing the large-scale gas flows im and around galaxies)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Study the role of Studying Star Formation in HI-Detected Galaxies in the Fornax Cluster)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Orbit of a triaxial pulsator)
2025-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (x2) (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-22

SA: Alexei
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Rudi and Shamin for the handover

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

=> First half of the night was lost due to weather. We observed mainly high priority blocks after opened telescope during second half of the night.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-005 P1 RSS (x2) (Study the most metal-poor void dwarf galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-009 P1 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2025-1-SCI-006 P1 RSS (Spectroscopy of giant double-double radio galaxy )
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-21

SA: Alexei
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

=> The weather ruined the entire night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-20

SA: Alexei
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

=> Very good and stable conditions at the beginning of the night. After midnight wind started to be very strong and we closed telescope during three hours. After that observed with thin clouds.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2025-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (x2) (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-SCI-021 P2 RSS (Testing grain growth and alignment in Coalsack cloud through spectropolarimetry)
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-19

SA: Alexei
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

=> Nigh started with very good weather and good seeing. P0 was observed. Some thin clouds came during second half of the night and we lost some time for the reason of weather conditions. However, many high priority blocks were observed during the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2025-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2025-1-SCI-014 P2 RSS (Spatially resolved optical spectra of post-starburst galaxies )
2025-1-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Orbit of a triaxial pulsator)
2025-1-SCI-030 P3 HRS (High resolution spectroscopy of asteroseismic targets)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-18

SA: Alexei
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

=> Dark and grey night with variable humidity and moderate and good seeing. Many blocks were observed and largest part of them are high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-005 P1 RSS (Study the most metal-poor void dwarf galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (x2) (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2025-1-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2025-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Orbit of a triaxial pulsator)
2025-1-SCI-005 P3 RSS (Variations of Dark Matter Fraction among Galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-1-SCI-040 P3 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2025-1-SCI-010 P3 HRS (Doppler imaging of the unexplored Southern Ap star)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-17

SA: Alexei
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

=> Lost all night for the reason of bad weather

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-16

SA: Alexei
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

=> Nice stable night with dark and grey time. Very good seeing. We observed mainly high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Study the role of Studying Star Formation in HI-Detected Galaxies in the Fornax Cluster)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x4) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Orbit of a triaxial pulsator)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-023 P3 HRS (Mapping of accretion Hot spot in ExLupi)
2025-1-SCI-010 P3 HRS (Doppler imaging of the unexplored Southern Ap star)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-15

SA: Narges
SO: Austun
Others: E10, Antoine, Nomzamo, Alexei, Sibo

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

We had almost a full night with very little downtime. Several blocks were observed including a P0.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x5) (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x4) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2025-1-DDT-004 P1 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopy of the new interstellar object 3I/ATLAS)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-020 P2 RSS (Study the role of Studying Star Formation in HI-Detected Galaxies in the Fornax Cluster)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-14

SA: Narges
SO: Austun
Others: Antoine

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

It was a reasonably good night. We had some downtime but managed to observe several blocks including a P0.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-DDT-002 P0 RSS (Cosmic expansion constraints through Active Galactic Nuclei variability study)
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2025-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Orbit of a triaxial pulsator)
2025-1-SCI-008 P2 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2025-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-SCI-024 P3 RSS (Probing glaxy evolution using large scale gas flows around galaxies)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2023-1-SCI-040 P3 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2025-07-13

SA: Narges
SO: Austun
Others: Antoine, Daniel

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Summary
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We lost most of the night due to bad weather. Only a few blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-COM-002 P1 RSS (Observing the Moon for polarimetry calibrations)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)

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Night Log 2025-07-12

SA: Narges
SO: Austun
Others: Lisa, her visitor, E10

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Summary
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It was a reasonably good night. We had some downtime but managed to observe several blocks including a P0.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-031 P1 HRS (x3) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning )
2024-1-LSP-001 P1 NIR (x2) (Study of star formation quenching in post-starburst galaxies)
2023-1-COM-002 P1 RSS (Observing the Moon for polarimetry calibrations)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-1-MLT-007 P3 HRS (Long-term monitoring of the first known blue large-amplitude pulsator in a binary)
2025-1-MLT-006 P3 HRS (Search for binary post-AGB stars.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)

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Night Log 2025-07-11

SA: Narges
SO: Austun
Others: Nico

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Summary
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Lost the whole night mainly due to bad weather a few technical issues.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2025-07-10

SA: Narges
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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Lost the whole night due to bad weather.

No science data taken.

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Night Log 2025-07-09

SA: Narges
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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We lost most of the night due to high winds. HRS was offline and only 4 RSS science blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-012 P4 RSS (x3) (Artificial intelligence identification of extragalactic sources)
2025-1-MLT-002 P4 RSS (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)

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Night Log 2025-07-08

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: Narges, Anthony

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Summary
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We had varying cloud cover throughout the night but we managed to observe a few blocks before the clouds and high winds closed us.

Science data taken for:
2022-1-COM-003 P0 HRS (Some targets for NIR first LIght)
2025-1-SCI-031 P1 HRS (x3) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)

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Night Log 2025-07-07

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: Nico, Johan, E10, Taygan + Tamiah

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Summary
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We had stable conditions tonight: mostly clear skies and good seeing, and we were able to observe many blocks despite some technical problems.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-011 P1 RSS (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-031 P2 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2024-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (x2) (Observations of ssrAp stars)

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Night Log 2025-07-06

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Lost the whole night due to bad weather

No science data taken.

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