SALT Astronomy: 2025

Saturday, August 2, 2025

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)

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

Friday, August 1, 2025

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)

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

Thursday, July 31, 2025

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.

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

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

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.

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

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

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)

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

Monday, July 28, 2025

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.)

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

Sunday, July 27, 2025

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)

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

Saturday, July 26, 2025

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.)

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

Friday, July 25, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-24

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

High humidity prevented us from opening up tonight.

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, July 24, 2025

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)

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

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

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.)

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

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-21

SA: Alexei
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

=> The weather ruined the entire night.

No science data taken.

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

Monday, July 21, 2025

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)

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

Sunday, July 20, 2025

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)

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

Saturday, July 19, 2025

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)

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

Friday, July 18, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-17

SA: Alexei
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

=> Lost all night for the reason of bad weather

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, July 17, 2025

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)

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

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

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)

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

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

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)

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

Monday, July 14, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-13

SA: Narges
SO: Austun
Others: Antoine, Daniel

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

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.)

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

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-12

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

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

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)

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

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-11

SA: Narges
SO: Austun
Others: Nico

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

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

No science data taken.

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

Friday, July 11, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-10

SA: Narges
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Lost the whole night due to bad weather.

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-09

SA: Narges
SO: Austun
Others:

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

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)

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

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-08

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: Narges, Anthony

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

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)

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

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-07

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

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

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)

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

Monday, July 7, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-06

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Lost the whole night due to bad weather

No science data taken.

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

Sunday, July 6, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-05

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-04

Friday, July 4, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-03

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-02

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: Nhlavu, Christian, Jean, Danièl

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

We were badly affected by changing cloud cover throughout the night and then high humidity towards the end of the night, but we managed to observe a few blocks.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-DDT-003 P0 RSS (x4) (Follow-up of unknown Solar System object)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (x2) (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2023-1-SCI-040 P3 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)

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

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Night Log 2025-07-01

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Night started from many clouds and were opened only after some hours. However, weather started to be better and we have nice seeing and clear sky at the end. Only high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x4) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-ORP-001 P1 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-015 P1 RSS (Probing the large-scale gas flows im and around galaxies)
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Probing glaxy evolution using large scale gas flows around galaxies)

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

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-30

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Stable night with good conditions. We have some technical problems, but observed many high priority blocks

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2023-1-SCI-040 P2 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2024-1-ORP-001 P2 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-005 P3 RSS (Variations of Dark Matter Fraction among Galaxies)

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

Monday, June 30, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-29

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others: Thabelo to fix fold mirror

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

=> Nice stable mostly dark night. We had some technical issues, but observed many high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x5) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-021 P2 RSS (Testing grain growth and alignment in Coalsack cloud through spectropolarimetry)
2025-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-SCI-005 P3 RSS (Variations of Dark Matter Fraction among Galaxies)

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

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-28

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Telescope was closed most of the time because high humidity and thick clouds. Opened only about 3 hours before morning twilight. Two P1 blocks were observed after mirror alignment.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)

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

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-27

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Lost entire night due to high humidity and clouds

No science data taken.

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

Friday, June 27, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-26

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> The whole night was lost due to bad weather.
=> HRS weekly calibrations were done

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-25

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Night was lost due to bad weather

No science data taken.

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

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-24

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: E10, Alexei and Austun

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

We did not manage to observe tonight due to the weather; the wind speed was too high and unstable.

No science data taken.

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

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-23

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Devakshan

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

We had to deal with high humidity, but managed to observe many blocks.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (x2) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-015 P1 RSS (Probing the large-scale gas flows im and around galaxies)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2025-1-SCI-005 P2 RSS (Variations of Dark Matter Fraction among Galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-014 P2 RSS (Spatially resolved optical spectra of post-starburst galaxies )
2024-1-ORP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-011 P3 RSS (x2) (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )

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

Monday, June 23, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-22

Sunday, June 22, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-21

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: E10, Eben, Michael, Danièl, Devakshan, Anthony and NIco

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

A full night of observing with very little technical problems.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2025-1-SCI-005 P2 RSS (Variations of Dark Matter Fraction among Galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-009 P3 RSS (x3) (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2025-1-SCI-011 P3 RSS (x6) (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2024-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Followup of Transients)

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

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-20

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Michael and E10

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

Lost the entire night due to weather

No science data taken.

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

Friday, June 20, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-19

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Lisa, Nico, Daniel and Michael

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

We did not manage to observe tonight due to the weather. We tried to open, but the humidity was rising too fast, so we closed immediately.

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-18

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Etienne

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

Lost the entire night due to weather

No science data taken.

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

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-17

SA: Rudi
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Narges, Antoine

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

High humidity and freezing temperatures kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

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

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-16

SA: Rudi
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Narges, Sam and Wimpie

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

A full night of observing with a little downtime. The humidity forced us to close with about 2 hours to go before the end of the night.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-009 P2 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2025-1-SCI-011 P3 RSS (x2) (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )

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

Monday, June 16, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-15

SA: Rudi
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Narges

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

It was a full night with some technical downtime. All priorities were observed including a P0.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (x2) (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (x2) (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
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-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-14

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Narges

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

It was a full night with good weather and almost no downtime.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-031 P1 HRS (x4) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (x2) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-004 P1 HRS (x7) (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x4) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
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-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-13

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Narges

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

It was a good night with good weather and very little downtime.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (Age Dating UMa)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-004 P2 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2025-1-SCI-019 P2 HRS (Study of accretion in high mass stars)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x4) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-007 P3 HRS (Exocomet detection is young stars)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (x3) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-023 P3 HRS (Mapping of accretion Hot spot in ExLupi)

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

Friday, June 13, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-12

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Narges, Danièl, Devakshan, Chrey

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

A full night of observing with very little technical problems. We had really good seeing conditions, but the full moon forced us to observe mostly lower priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2023-1-COM-002 P1 RSS (x2) (Observing the Moon for polarimetry calibrations)
2025-1-SCI-023 P2 HRS (Mapping of accretion Hot spot in ExLupi)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x3) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2021-2-MLT-004 P2 RSS (x2) (Spectropolarimetric Monitoring of eta Car)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2024-1-MLT-007 P3 HRS (Long-term monitoring of the first known blue large-amplitude pulsator in a binary)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (x4) (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)

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

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-11

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Narges, E10, Sunnyboy

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

A few problems at the start of the night, but very good going after that. Good seeing conditions and a few high priority blocks also observed during the bright Moon.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-001 P0 RSS (SALT Spectra of Transients)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2021-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Spectropolarimetric Monitoring of eta Car)
2023-1-COM-002 P1 RSS (x2) (Observing the Moon for polarimetry calibrations)
2025-1-SCI-006 P1 RSS (Spectroscopy of giant double-double radio galaxy )
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
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.)
2025-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)

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

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-10

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others: Thabelo, Rudi, Narges, Anthony, Sunnyboy

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

We were closed for the first part of the night due to the humidity, but we were able to open up and observe some blocks in the second half of the night, which mostly had great seeing conditions.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x3) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2025-1-SCI-031 P3 HRS (x3) (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2025-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (x3) (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

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

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-09

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Lost the whole night due to bad weather

No science data taken.

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

Monday, June 9, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-08

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others: Antoine

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

We lost the whole night due to bad weather: overcast very humid conditions.

No science data taken.

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

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-07

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others: Antoine

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

We lost the whole night due to bad stormy weather.

No science data taken.

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

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-06

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others: Wimpie, Danièl

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

We were closed for most of the night due to bad weather and we only managed to observe a couple of blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-COM-001 P1 NIR (NIRWALS Testing)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (Age Dating UMa)

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

Friday, June 6, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-05

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others: Danièl, Encarni

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

We had clear skies with good seeing for most of the night, we managed to observe many high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2021-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Spectropolarimetric Monitoring of eta Car)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (x2) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2019-1-COM-001 P1 SCAM (Burst-mirror throughput test )
2025-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2023-1-SCI-040 P2 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2025-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2024-1-MLT-010 P2 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

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

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-04

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others: Nico, Michael, Wimpie, Danièl

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

We had some technical problems but we managed to take advantage of the clear skies to observe many high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-031 P1 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2024-1-ORP-001 P1 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (x2) (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2025-1-SCI-004 P2 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2025-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2025-1-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-03

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others: Moses and Austun for handover

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

=> Night lost due to weather

No science data taken.

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

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-02

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

=> Grey and dark night with variable seeing and humidity waves. Finally, were closed by humidity at the end of the night. One P0 block was observed and many other blocks of different priorities.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-DDT-001 P0 RSS (Spectroscopic confirmation of helium-bright intracluster filament)
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
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-005 P2 RSS (x2) (Variations of Dark Matter Fraction among Galaxies)
2025-1-SCI-011 P2 RSS (x2) (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )
2024-1-MLT-010 P2 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2025-1-SCI-021 P2 RSS (Testing grain growth and alignment in Coalsack cloud through spectropolarimetry)
2025-1-SCI-009 P2 RSS (x2) (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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

Monday, June 2, 2025

Night Log 2025-06-01

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

=> Very good and stable grey and dark night. Three P0 blocks were observed and many other blocks with very good seeing.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients)
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)
2025-1-SCI-005 P2 RSS (Variations of Dark Matter Fraction among Galaxies)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (x2) (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2025-1-SCI-009 P2 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2024-1-ORP-001 P2 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2025-1-SCI-002 P3 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)

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

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-31

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

=> Mostly dark time night with stable enough weather and very bad seeng above 3" most of the time. Anyway, many HRS blocks were observed and some of them were high priority.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (x2) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (x9) (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)
2025-1-SCI-009 P2 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2025-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

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

Saturday, May 31, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-30

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

=> Very unstable night with very strong variations of humidity and strong wind. Many high priority blocks were observed anyway.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-031 P1 HRS (High resolution spectra to obtain abundances of RR Lyrae stars.)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (x2) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-009 P1 RSS (x2) (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2025-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS (x2) (Probing magnetic field strength in mangnetic CVs)
2023-1-SCI-040 P2 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2025-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (x2) (Age Dating UMa)

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

Friday, May 30, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-29

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

=> The night was lost due to weather

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-28

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

=> The night was lost due to weather

No science data taken.

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

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-27

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Nhlavutelo and Alexie for handover

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

A good night with stable seeing. Multiple blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x4) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-SCI-009 P1 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (x2) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-004 P1 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2025-1-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Orbit of a triaxial pulsator)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)

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

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-26

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Nidhi and Nhlavutelo

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

We observed 5 blocks before clouds and humidity forced us to close.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-SCI-021 P1 RSS (x2) (Testing grain growth and alignment in Coalsack cloud through spectropolarimetry)

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

Monday, May 26, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-25

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others:

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

Another good night with stable seeing, during which multiple blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2025-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (x7) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)
2025-1-SCI-009 P1 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2024-1-ORP-001 P1 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (x2) (Age Dating UMa)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x4) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Orbit of a triaxial pulsator)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)

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

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-24

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Nhlavutelo

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

A good night with stable seeing. Multiple blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2025-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (x6) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)
2025-1-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Time-series spectra of cataclysmic variables.)
2025-1-MLT-005 P1 RSS (Study the most metal-poor void dwarf galaxies)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x8) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (x2) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (Determining orbital periods for ultracompact binaries)
2025-1-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Orbit of a triaxial pulsator)

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

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-23

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Nhlavutelo

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

A good night with stable seeing. Multiple blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x6) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT)
2024-1-ORP-001 P1 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2025-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (x7) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (x3) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-009 P1 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2025-1-SCI-004 P1 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2025-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (Age Dating UMa)

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

Friday, May 23, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-22

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Nhlavutelo, Lisa, Daniel, Austun, Shamiel and Sunnyboy

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

A good night with stable seeing. Multiple blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x6) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (x5) (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-009 P1 RSS (x2) (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.)
2025-1-SCI-004 P1 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2025-1-SCI-011 P1 RSS (Radial Velocity measurements of short-period pulsating stars. )

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

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-21

SA: Antoine
SO: Nomzamo
Others: Nhlavutelo

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

Night lost to bad weather.

No science data taken.

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

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-20

SA: Antoine
SO: Veronica
Others: Lee,Devakshan,Lisa, Sunnyboy, Thabelo ,Danièl, Eben

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

Night lost to high humidity, thick clouds and rain..

No science data taken.

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

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-19

SA: Antoine
SO: Veronica
Others: Lee, Nomzamo and Taygan

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

We managed to observe a few blocks before thick dark clouds forced us to stop observing.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (x8) (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)

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

Monday, May 19, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-18

SA: Antoine
SO: Veronica
Others: Lee, Eben,Nomzam

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

Night lost due to thick cloud.

No science data taken.

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

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-17

SA: Antoine
SO: Veronica
Others: Lee

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

At the beginning of the night, the weather was not good, but finally we obtained small windows where the weather improved, and we succeeded in observing 11 blocks.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-SCI-004 P1 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2024-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x5) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2025-1-MLT-007 P2 HRS (x3) (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-SCI-023 P2 HRS (Mapping of accretion Hot spot in ExLupi)

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

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-16

SA: Antoine
SO: Veronica
Others: Lee

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

We had half a night with good seeing. The telescope and HRS behaved well. We completed 10 blocks.

Science data taken for:
2025-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (x6) (Age Dating UMa)
2025-1-SCI-004 P1 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
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)

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

Friday, May 16, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-15

SA: Antoine
SO: Veronica
Others: Lisa, Lee, Nomzamo, Taygan and software team online

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

The entire night was used to take pointing data only.

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-14

Friday, May 9, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-08

SA: Danièl
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Shutdown ongoing.

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Night Log 2025-05-07

SA: Danièl
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Shutdown ongoing.

No science data taken.

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

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

No science data taken.

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

Night Log 2025-04-29

SA: Danièl
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-28

SA: Danièl
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Monday, April 28, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-27

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-26

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-25

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Friday, April 25, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-24

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-23

SA: Rudi
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-22

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-21

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

Night Log 2025-04-19

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-18

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Friday, April 18, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-17

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-16

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-15

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

No science data taken.

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

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-14

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Monday, April 14, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-13

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-12

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Saturday, April 12, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-11

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Friday, April 11, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-10

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-09

SA: Moses
SO: Austun
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Night Log 2025-04-08

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Telescope shutdown in progress

No science data taken.

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

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

No science data taken.

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

Monday, March 31, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-30

SA: Antoine
SO: Shamin
Others:

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

Lost the entire night due to telescope shutdown.

No science data taken.

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

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-29

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-28

Friday, March 28, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-27

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-26

SA: Antoine
SO: Shamin
Others: LIsa and software team

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

We managed to observe 12 blocks before the high humidity forced us to close.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-SCI-040 P2 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (x2) (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (x6) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)
2019-1-MLT-008 P3 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)

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

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-25

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Lost the entire night due to telescope shutdown.

No science data taken.

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

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-24

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Lost the entire night due to telescope shutdown.

No science data taken.

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

Monday, March 24, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-23

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Austun, Wimpie

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

We managed to get all the required on-sky engineering test done as well as clear the RSS and HRS standards. We also managed to fit in a few science blocks towards the end of the night.

Science data taken for:
2019-1-COM-001 P1 SCAM (Burst-mirror throughput test )
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2024-2-SCI-027 P1 RSS (Studying kinematics and properties of starbursts and LIRGs using SALT IFUs)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2024-1-COM-001 P1 NIR (NIRWALS Testing)
2024-2-SCI-012 P2 RSS (Tracing the large-scale galactic outflows)
2024-2-SCI-002 P3 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples)

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

Sunday, March 23, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-22

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Austun

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

High humidity and ridge cloud prevented us from opening up tonight.

No science data taken.

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

Saturday, March 22, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-21

Friday, March 21, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-20

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Austun, Sam, Eben

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

The weather prevented us from opening up tonight. We managed to complete the closed-dome pre-shutdown engineering tests.

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-19

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Austun, Ros

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

We managed to get one P0 block done before we spent the rest of the night doing pre-shutdown engineering tests.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-SCI-042 P0 RSS (SALT Spectra of Transients)

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

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-18

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others: Rudi for the handover

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

=> Nice stable night with good weather conditions and moderate to good seeing. Many high priority blocks were observed, where two blocks were P0 priority.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-MLT-004 P0 RSS (Observations of white dwarf supernovae to be observed also with JWST.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P0 SCAM (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2024-2-DDT-004 P1 HRS (Study of the complex magnetic field of a fast-rotating B-type star)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-SCI-002 P2 HRS (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2024-2-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Studying the broad-line region in a quasar using reverberation mapping )
2024-1-SCI-042 P2 HRS (SALT Spectra of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x4) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2019-1-MLT-008 P3 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)

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

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-17

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Unstable night with bright moon. Some part of the night we were closed by humidity. Many blocks of different priorities were observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-ORP-004 P2 RSS (x2) (Study of LRN geometry)
2024-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Photometric Reverberation Mapping of Seyfert AGN)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2024-2-SCI-011 P2 RSS (Observing hot and cool H-deficient stars to demonstrate evolution links.)
2024-2-LSP-001 P3 HRS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
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)

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

Monday, March 17, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-16

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> One science block was observed before we were closed by high humidity.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-ORP-003 P1 RSS (Astrometry of mid-sized TransNeptunian Objects)
2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (x2) (This is a commissioning proposal)

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

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-15

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> We were able to observe only two last hours of this night. The rest was lost due to weather. Anyway, five high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-SCI-026 P1 RSS (Spectroscopic study of the intermediate-mass X-ray binary system, 4U 1210-64)
2024-2-SCI-002 P2 HRS (x2) (High resolution spectrocopy of Type II Cepheids)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)

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

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-14

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> We were closed most of the night because heavy clouds and high humidity. Fortunately, last three hours weather started to be better and we observed six blocks of different priorities.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-ORP-005 P1 HRS (Bright white dwarf RVs)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-2-LSP-001 P3 HRS (Followup of Transients)

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

Friday, March 14, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-13

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Lost the entire night to bad weather.

No science data taken.

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

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-12

SA: Alexei
SO: Austun
Others:

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

=> Clear bright night with moderate and good seeing. Many blocks were observed, but most of them are low priority.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal)
2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-SCI-023 P2 HRS (Observations of ssrAp stars)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2019-1-MLT-008 P3 HRS (x3) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2024-2-SCI-025 P4 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (x4) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

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

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-11

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Alexei, Austun

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

A full night of science to finish our week. We observed mostly lower prioirty blocks due to the bright moon and variable seeing.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-SCI-025 P1 HRS (Looking for proto hot Jupiters)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2024-2-SCI-021 P3 RSS (Searching for fast-moving black holes )
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x3) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2024-2-SCI-034 P3 RSS (Characterizing the orbital parameters and accretion disk of an eclipsing high-mass X-ray binary)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (x3) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2019-1-MLT-008 P3 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)

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

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-10

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Variable seeing and a bright moon meant we were limited to lower priority blocks for most of the night, though we did complete a few P1's as well. We lost the last 2 hours of the night to humidity.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-2-DDT-004 P1 HRS (Study of the complex magnetic field of a fast-rotating B-type star)
2024-1-LSP-001 P1 NIR (x2) (Study of star formation quenching in post-starburst galaxies)
2024-2-ORP-005 P1 HRS (Bright white dwarf RVs)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2024-2-LSP-001 P3 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (x3) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

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

Monday, March 10, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-09

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

We observed many high priority blocks tonight, including 4 P0's. The weather was good and the seeing stable throughout. Smooth sailing all night!

Science data taken for:
2024-2-SCI-024 P0 RSS (Studying the broad-line region in a quasar using reverberation mapping )
2024-1-MLT-003 P0 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-2-SCI-004 P2 RSS (x2) (Probing the quasar outflows.)
2024-1-SCI-042 P2 RSS (SALT Spectra of Transients)
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2024-2-LSP-001 P3 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

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

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-08

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Eben, Waanie

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

We lost most of the night to thick cloud and high humidity. We opened for a brief spell and managed 3 blocks towards the end of the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)

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

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-07

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Night lost to thick cloud and rain.

No science data taken.

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

Friday, March 7, 2025

Night Log 2025-03-06

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

We only managed 4 blocks before we were closed by thick clouds.

Science data taken for:
2024-2-MLT-006 P2 HRS (HRS observations of a high mass binary system.)
2024-2-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Studying the broad-line region in a quasar using reverberation mapping )
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-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

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