Night Log 2026-10-19

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: Lisa, Eben, E10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A long observing night with favourable weather conditions and stable seeing throughout. We managed to observe a total of eight blocks, including three P0 blocks. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-004 P0 RSS (x3) (Observations of supernovae, near and far.) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-010 P1 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (IFU observations of nearby MHONGOOSE galaxies) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-18

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The whole night was lost due to bad weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-17

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We lost the second half of the night due to clouds and high humidity. Science data taken for: 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-16

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The night was stable with thin clouds and good seeing although there were periods where the wind speed exceeded 50 km/h and the humidity started rising after midnight. We observed several blocks of varying priority. Science data taken for: 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x5) (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (x2) (IFU observations of nearby MHONGOOSE galaxies) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-15

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It was a very slow night with thin clouds and good seeing. We managed to observe several high priority blocks including a P0. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (x2) (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2026-1-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Exploring accretion modes of GRGs to gain insights into their feedback mechanisms.) 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-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-007 P3 RSS (Observations of Rare and Fast Transients and their Hosts) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-14

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Strong wind bothered us during the first half of the night with wind speeds reaching 55 km/h but despite this we stayed open and managed to observe ten science blocks with different priorities. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-019 P0 RSS (Understanding the nature of changing look AGNs) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2024-2-LSP-002 P3 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-014 P3 RSS (What galaxies cause odd radio circles (ORCs)?) 2026-1-SCI-018 P3 RSS (Measuring distances to the largest known radio galaxies to understand how black hole jets grow.) 2026-1-SCI-007 P3 RSS (Observations of Rare and Fast Transients and their Hosts) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2026-1-MLT-007 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic study of BLAP candidates) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-13

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => Stable dark time night with moderate and good seeing. Even with some technical problems we were able to observe seven blocks with five of them high priorities. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2026-1-SCI-015 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigation of activity among main-belt objects) 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-008 P3 RSS (x2) (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-12

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => The night was lost with bad weather No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-11

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => Good dark night at the beginning finished with heavy clouds. We were closed by clouds after midnight, but observed many high priority blocks during first half. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-010 P1 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-011 P3 RSS (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2025-2-MLT-004 P3 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2025-2-MLT-001 P4 RSS (Toward a complete census of void galaxy properties in the Local Volume) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-10

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => Nice stable dark time night with very good seeing. Many high priority blocks were observed. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-011 P0 RSS (x2) (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-021 P1 HRS (Charcaterizing eclisping binaries that have experienced unstable mass transfer) 2026-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2026-1-SCI-015 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigation of activity among main-belt objects) 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2025-2-MLT-002 P3 RSS (Study of ionized gas in star-forming dwarf ring galaxies) 2025-2-MLT-004 P3 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2025-2-LSP-001 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-09

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => Very stable dark night with very good seeing. Many high priority blocks were observed. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-011 P0 RSS (x3) (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2026-1-SCI-010 P1 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2026-1-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Exploring accretion modes of GRGs to gain insights into their feedback mechanisms.) 2026-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2025-2-MLT-002 P3 RSS (x2) (Study of ionized gas in star-forming dwarf ring galaxies) 2026-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2026-1-SCI-011 P4 RSS (Optical spectroscopy of three stellar merger candidates) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-08

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => Good dark night with mostly stable weather and moderate and good seeing. Many high priority blocks were observed. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (x2) (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (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) 2025-2-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Study of galaxy properties of galaxy group HIPASS 1059-09) 2025-2-MLT-002 P3 RSS (Study of ionized gas in star-forming dwarf ring galaxies) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) 2025-2-MLT-007 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic monitoring of a unique red (?) supergiant in the LMC) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-07

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => Dark night with improving seeing from moderate at the beginning to the good at the end. Despite some technical problems many high priority blocks were observed. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2026-1-SCI-010 P1 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2025-2-MLT-007 P1 RSS (Spectroscopic monitoring of a unique red (?) supergiant in the LMC) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x4) (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (IFU observations of nearby MHONGOOSE galaxies) 2026-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-06

SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: Austun, Alexei ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We lost most of the night due to bad weather - bad seeing and high humidity, and only managed to observe a few blocks. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-05

SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thick clouds prevented us from observing for most of the night, we only managed to observe a few blocks. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-04

SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Despite some cloud cover we used the good seeing to observe some high priority blocks until the humidity caused us to close early. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-011 P1 RSS (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2026-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2026-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2026-1-DDT-002 P1 HRS (Monitoring of stellar activity of solar analog star) 2026-1-SCI-016 P2 RSS ("Understanding the peculiar collision geometry of the Cartwheel system") 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-03

SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night due to bad weather No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-02

SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night due to bad weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-10-01

SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had a smooth night with a bit of cloud around, and managed to observe many blocks of mixed priority. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2026-1-SCI-002 P1 HRS (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission) 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 HRS (x2) (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (na) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-012 P3 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2025-2-MLT-008 P3 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-30

SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had mostly clear skies with good seeing in the first half of the night, the second half had poor seeing. But we managed to observe many blocks of mixed priority. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-001 P1 HRS (Tracing evolution of recent stellar merger remnants) 2026-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2026-1-SCI-012 P2 RSS (Probing circular polarisation from mCVs) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (x4) (na) 2026-1-SCI-021 P3 HRS (Charcaterizing eclisping binaries that have experienced unstable mass transfer) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2026-1-SCI-009 P3 RSS (Extreme variability in the BLR of the AGN HE2129-3356) 2025-2-MLT-008 P3 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-29

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: Daniel, Moses for handover. SCM team ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Finally, we had a full night, but it was not as good as we had hoped because the seeing was unstable for about three-quarters of the night. We managed to observe 15 blocks with mixed priorities. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-014 P1 RSS (Observations of a possible nova super-remnant around a CV.) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2026-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (x2) (The rapid stages of final stellar evolution caught in the act) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) 2025-1-MLT-004 P4 RSS (x2) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-28

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: Daniel, E10, Nico, Dev, Wimpie and Anthony ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The night was difficult, starting with technical problems and followed by poor seeing, which forced us to observe only P4 blocks tonight. Science data taken for: 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-27

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: Daniel, Sibo and E10 for HRS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ we managed to open up and observer only one block before high humidity force us to close. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-001 P1 HRS (Tracing evolution of recent stellar merger remnants) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-26

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another night lost to the bad weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-25

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: Daniel and Johan ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Night lost to weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-24

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: Daniel and E10 for fire alarm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A few attempts were made, but we were defeated by clouds. We managed to observe only 4 blocks. Science data taken for: 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2025-2-MLT-012 P2 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2025-2-MLT-004 P2 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2026-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (HRS-MR spectra of Classical Cepheids ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-23

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: Deniel, E10 for BMS,SIBO and Anthony ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The weather kept us closed most of the night. But final we manager to observer 4 blocks. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-012 P2 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2026-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (The rapid stages of final stellar evolution caught in the act) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-22

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: Mahike, Lisa, Shan, Jake, Malcolm, Wimpie ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We lost the first half of the night to stormy weather. Then only managed 2 blocks before humidity came and closed us for the rest of the night. Science data taken for: 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-21

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: Mahike, Lisa, Malcolm, Jake, Shan, Shamiel, Dev ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We managed two more blocks tonight which would normally be disappointing, but with the recent weather it feels like a victory! A combination of cloud and humidity kept us closed most of the night, and some mirror issues meant we failed to make the most of the gaps in the weather. Good progress was made with the laser comb commissioning during the bad weather. Science data taken for: 2025-2-LSP-001 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-20

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: Mahike, Lisa, Malcolm, Shan, Jake ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ After 10 days of bad weather we finally managed to open up for a few hours on-sky. We battled cloud on and off before high humidity closed us at midnight. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-007 P2 RSS (Observations of Rare and Fast Transients and their Hosts) 2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) 2026-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-19

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: Mahike, Malcolm, Jake, Shan ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another night lost to weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-18

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Night lost to weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-17

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: Mahike, Lisa, Malcolm, Shan, Jake ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another night lost to stormy weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-16

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: Mahike ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Night lost to weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-15

SA: Danièl SO: Austun Others: Thabelo and interview candidates, Lee, ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night to bad weather No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-14

SA: Danièl SO: Austun Others: Lisa, Malcolm, HW team ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night to bad weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-13

SA: Danièl SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night to bad weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-12

SA: Danièl SO: Austun Others: Lisa, Malcolm and HW team, Bret, Lucia and UCT students ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night to bad weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-11

SA: Danièl SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night to bad weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-10

SA: Danièl SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night to bad weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-09

SA: Danièl SO: Austun Others: Sam, Thabelo, Dev (for HRS guider auto-focus test), Encarni ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The night got off to a rocky start after we finished the HRS guider auto-focus test. We managed to complete 9 blocks, including two P0s. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-007 P0 RSS (Observations of Rare and Fast Transients and their Hosts) 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (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) 2026-1-SCI-018 P3 RSS (Measuring distances to the largest known radio galaxies to understand how black hole jets grow.) 2026-1-SCI-025 P3 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-08

SA: Rudi SO: Fred Others: Danièl, Austun, Nico, Nkateko, Lynn-Joy, Hritik ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A full night of observing in relatively good and stable conditions with minimal downtime. Mostly higher priority blocks observed. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-003 P1 RSS (The rapid stages of final stellar evolution caught in the act) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x5) (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-012 P2 RSS (Probing circular polarisation from mCVs) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (na) 2025-2-MLT-012 P3 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2026-1-SCI-025 P3 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-07

SA: Rudi SO: Fred Others: Nkateko, Lynn-Joy, Hritik ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We battled with the clouds once again tonight but managed to get a few blocks observed for the first time in four nights. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-001 P1 RSS (Toward a complete census of void galaxy properties in the Local Volume) 2025-2-MLT-007 P1 RSS (Spectroscopic monitoring of a unique red (?) supergiant in the LMC) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-005 P2 RSS (IFU observations of nearby MHONGOOSE galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-014 P3 RSS (What galaxies cause odd radio circles (ORCs)?) 2025-2-MLT-008 P3 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-06

SA: Rudi SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weather prevented us from opening up tonight. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-05

SA: Rudi SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another night lost to weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-04

SA: Rudi SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ High winds, clouds and high humidity kept us closed all night. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-03

SA: Rudi SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weather kept us closed all night. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-02

SA: Rudi SO: Fred Others: Prime visitors. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We battled the clouds for most of the night, eventually losing the fight. We were forced to observe mostly lower priority blocks. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-004 P3 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2025-2-LSP-001 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2025-2-MLT-008 P3 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2026-1-SCI-009 P3 RSS (Extreme variability in the BLR of the AGN HE2129-3356) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (x3) (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-09-01

SA: Nikki SO: Veronica Others: Rudi, Fred for handover, Sibo & Jean forsoftware problems, some Prime visitors. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had a turbulent start of the night due to technical issues, which kept us closed for an amount of time. The second half of the night things settled and we managed to observe a number of blocks of varying priority (mostly 2/3). We only lost a small amount of time to weather towards the end of the night. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-006 P2 RSS (Longslit spectroscopic observations of the Cosmic Ammonite gravitational lens) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (na) 2026-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Extreme variability in the BLR of the Seyfert AGN J0259-2422) 2026-1-SCI-002 P2 HRS (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2025-2-LSP-001 P3 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2025-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (IFU observations of nearby MHONGOOSE galaxies) 2026-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-31

SA: Nikki SO: Veronica Others: Sam & E10 for cooling issues, E10 for pdet problem, Antoine for SMI & slot mode blocks ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It was a clear night with stable seeing. We managed to observe several blocks of varying priority. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-002 P1 HRS (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission) 2026-1-SCI-015 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigation of activity among main-belt objects) 2026-1-SCI-007 P2 RSS (Observations of Rare and Fast Transients and their Hosts) 2026-1-SCI-012 P2 RSS (Probing circular polarisation from mCVs) 2026-1-SCI-006 P2 RSS (Longslit spectroscopic observations of the Cosmic Ammonite gravitational lens) 2025-2-MLT-012 P3 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-30

SA: Nikki SO: Veronica Others: E10 for HRS hiccup ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'twas a short night as we had to close for humidity earlier than we hoped based on the forecast. But, it was long enough for a few low-priority blocks and a few hiccups. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-021 P3 HRS (Charcaterizing eclisping binaries that have experienced unstable mass transfer) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2024-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-29

SA: Nikki SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Roses are red, violets are blue; A sky full of clouds leaves little to do. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-28

SA: Nikki SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A few attempts were made, but we were defeated by clouds, while the wind and moon made our lives difficult too. We managed to observe one P3 of questionable quality and one P4... Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2024-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-27

SA: Nikki SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Night was lost to weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-26

SA: Nikki SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bright-moon night with some cloud cover. The seeing was quite unstable the first half of the night, but settled during the second half. We mostly did P4 blocks, and a few P3s. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2025-2-MLT-008 P3 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2026-1-SCI-003 P3 HRS (The rapid stages of final stellar evolution caught in the act) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (x3) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x7) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) 2024-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-25

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Austun Others: Nikki (Handover) and Michael ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The night was long and characterised by unstable seeing conditions despite this, we managed to observe several low priority blocks. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-004 P2 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2026-1-SCI-003 P3 RSS (The rapid stages of final stellar evolution caught in the act) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (x5) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) 2025-2-MLT-001 P4 RSS (Toward a complete census of void galaxy properties in the Local Volume) 2024-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-24

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Austun Others: Anthony and Michael ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another longest night with stable seeing, we observed 15 blocks including a P0 and a DDT, and several P3s and P4s. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-DDT-007 P1 HRS (HRS observation of J005759.51+094041.1.) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2025-2-LSP-001 P3 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (x3) (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2025-2-MLT-012 P4 HRS (x2) (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2026-1-SCI-001 P4 HRS (Tracing evolution of recent stellar merger remnants) 2026-1-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Extreme variability in the BLR of the Seyfert AGN J0259-2422) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-23

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A great night with stable seeing and low humidity. We observed a record 16 science blocks with varying priority. Science data taken for: 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-005 P1 HRS (x2) (na) 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (x4) (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2026-1-SCI-018 P3 RSS (Measuring distances to the largest known radio galaxies to understand how black hole jets grow.) 2026-1-SCI-025 P3 RSS (x3) (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2024-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (x3) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-22

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Austun Others: Anthony ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A beautiful and long night with unstable seeing conditions and despite this we managed to observe several high priority science blocks including a DDT and standard stars. Science data taken for: 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-025 P1 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2026-1-SCI-021 P1 HRS (Charcaterizing eclisping binaries that have experienced unstable mass transfer) 2026-1-DDT-007 P1 HRS (HRS observation of J005759.51+094041.1.) 2026-1-SCI-003 P1 RSS (The rapid stages of final stellar evolution caught in the act) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (x2) (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2026-1-SCI-018 P3 RSS (Measuring distances to the largest known radio galaxies to understand how black hole jets grow.) 2024-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-21

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Austun Others: Anthony ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another night with low humidity, bright moon, thin clouds and we managed to observe several low priority blocks including a P0 and a handful of P1s. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2026-1-SCI-010 P1 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (na) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-012 P3 RSS (Probing circular polarisation from mCVs) 2025-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (IFU observations of nearby MHONGOOSE galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (x3) (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2025-2-MLT-004 P3 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-20

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another long night that started with a cloudy weather and despite this we managed to observe several low priority blocks and a few high priority blocks. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2025-2-MLT-005 P2 RSS (IFU observations of nearby MHONGOOSE galaxies) 2024-1-MLT-010 P2 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (na) 2026-1-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Determining the metallicity of bulge Type II Cepheids) 2025-2-MLT-004 P3 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2024-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-19

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Austun Others: Michael, E10, Thabelo ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A long night with good seeing, we observed several high priority blocks including two P0s and six P1s. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-010 P1 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2026-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (x2) (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2026-1-SCI-001 P1 HRS (Tracing evolution of recent stellar merger remnants) 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (x2) (na) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2025-2-MLT-012 P3 HRS (x3) (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-19

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Austun Others: Michael, E10, Thabelo ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A long night with good seeing, we observed several high priority blocks including two P0s and six P1s. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-001 P1 HRS (Tracing evolution of recent stellar merger remnants) 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2026-1-SCI-010 P1 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2026-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (x2) (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (x2) (na) 2025-2-MLT-012 P3 HRS (x3) (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-18

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: Zwido & Austun ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Despite having some periods when there were no blocks in the queue, we managed to observe many blocks of different priorities. Science data taken for: 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (x3) (This is a commissioning proposal) 2025-2-MLT-011 P1 RSS (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2026-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2025-2-MLT-005 P2 RSS (IFU observations of nearby MHONGOOSE galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-015 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigation of activity among main-belt objects) 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2025-2-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Study of galaxy properties of galaxy group HIPASS 1059-09) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2025-1-MLT-004 P4 RSS (x3) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids) 2026-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (x6) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-17

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had another full night with stable conditions. We managed to observe many blocks of different priorities. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-025 P1 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (x3) (This is a commissioning proposal) 2025-2-MLT-011 P1 RSS (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2024-2-LSP-002 P3 RSS (x4) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (x5) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-16

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: E10 for HRS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had a good night with stable conditions. We managed to observe many high priority blocks. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2025-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (Study of galaxy properties of galaxy group HIPASS 1059-09) 2025-2-MLT-011 P1 RSS (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2025-2-MLT-004 P2 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (x5) (na) 2026-1-SCI-003 P2 RSS (The rapid stages of final stellar evolution caught in the act) 2024-2-LSP-002 P3 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-15

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: E10 for HRS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ During the second part of the night, we were affected by thick, dark clouds and managed to observe only one block. However, during the first part of the night, we managed to observe seven blocks, all of which were high-priority blocks. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (x2) (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (x2) (na) 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-14

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: Eben and Anthony ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A full night with no technical problems. Thank you. We managed to observe many high-priority blocks. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x4) (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (x2) (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (Study of galaxy properties of galaxy group HIPASS 1059-09) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (x3) (na) 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-002 P2 HRS (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-13

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: E10 and Anthony ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apart from some downtime due to the mirror problems, we managed to observe many blocks, mostly the high-priority ones. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2026-1-SCI-013 P0 SCAM (Observing new near Earth asteroids) 2026-1-MLT-004 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-010 P1 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (x2) (na) 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-12

SA: Antoine SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We only managed to observe one block. We could not complete the observations for all the other blocks we attempted due to bad weather. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-11

SA: Moses SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We lost the whole night due to bad weather No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-10

SA: Moses SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night due to bad weather No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-09

SA: Moses SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night due to bad weather No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-08

SA: Moses SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had reasonable conditions and managed to observe many high priority blocks until adverse weather caused us to close up in the morning. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x4) (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-011 P1 RSS (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2025-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (Study of galaxy properties of galaxy group HIPASS 1059-09) 2026-1-SCI-016 P1 RSS ("Understanding the peculiar collision geometry of the Cartwheel system") 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (na) 2024-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-07

SA: Moses SO: Fred Others: Wimpie ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had a busy night with okay and mostly stable conditions. We managed to observe many high priority blocks, SMI, MOS and some imaging blocks along with the regular observations. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-011 P0 RSS (x3) (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-013 P0 SCAM (Observing new near Earth asteroids) 2026-1-SCI-016 P1 RSS (x2) ("Understanding the peculiar collision geometry of the Cartwheel system") 2025-2-MLT-005 P1 RSS (IFU observations of nearby MHONGOOSE galaxies) 2025-2-MLT-007 P1 RSS (Spectroscopic monitoring of a unique red (?) supergiant in the LMC) 2025-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (x2) (Study of galaxy properties of galaxy group HIPASS 1059-09) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (x3) (na) 2026-1-SCI-009 P3 RSS (Extreme variability in the BLR of the AGN HE2129-3356) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-06

SA: Moses SO: Fred Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We only managed to observe one block before high humidity kept us closed for the night. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-05

SA: Moses SO: Fred Others: Daniél, Devakshan, Sunnyboy, Chrey ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Despite a few weather interruptions we had a mostly stable night with decent seeing and thin cloud, we managed to observe many blocks of mixed priority. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-007 P0 RSS (Observations of Rare and Fast Transients and their Hosts) 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (Study of galaxy properties of galaxy group HIPASS 1059-09) 2026-1-SCI-025 P1 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2026-1-SCI-011 P4 RSS (Optical spectroscopy of three stellar merger candidates) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-04

SA: Lee SO: Austun Others: Moses & Fred ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We lost the best part of the night to thick cloud, but that cleared out shortly after 2am allowing us to open up. The rest of the night was smooth and uneventful. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-006 P1 RSS (Longslit spectroscopic observations of the Cosmic Ammonite gravitational lens) 2024-2-LSP-002 P2 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-002 P2 HRS (x2) (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-03

SA: Lee SO: Austun Others: Thabelo ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another good night for us tonight with no technical issues and only a little weather downtime at the end of the night. We observed several blocks in stable but modest seeing. The IQ was generally fine, but the sub-par seeing may have hidden some of the issues we saw last night. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-015 P2 RSS (x3) (Investigation of activity among main-belt objects) 2026-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Studying nearby starburst galaxies and LIRGs with the SALT IFU) 2026-1-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) 2025-2-MLT-012 P3 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (x3) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (x3) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-02

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yet another full night with clear skies and decent seeing. Our IQ was not great tonight but we completed another 16 blocks of mixed priority. Science data taken for: 2026-1-DDT-005 P1 RSS (DDT SN2007it) 2026-1-SCI-006 P1 RSS (Longslit spectroscopic observations of the Cosmic Ammonite gravitational lens) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-002 P1 HRS (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission) 2025-2-MLT-012 P2 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2026-1-SCI-001 P2 HRS (Tracing evolution of recent stellar merger remnants) 2026-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (Studying the variable stellar winds of Wolf-Rayet stars) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2024-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2026-1-SCI-018 P4 RSS (Measuring distances to the largest known radio galaxies to understand how black hole jets grow.) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-08-01

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another full night in which we completed 17 blocks. The sky was clearer than last night but the seeing was a little more variable. No technical issues. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (x2) (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (x3) (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) 2026-1-MLT-007 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic study of BLAP candidates) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-31

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: Nico (Dimm) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We marked the mid-point of the semester with a productive night and only minor downtime. The bright moon and thin cloud meant we stuck to mostly lower priority blocks, though a handful of P0-2 blocks found their way into the queue. A total of 20 blocks were completed. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Finding presence of Supermassive black hole binaries in quasars) 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2025-2-MLT-013 P2 RSS (x3) (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2025-2-MLT-004 P3 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2025-2-MLT-012 P3 HRS (x2) (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2026-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (Studying the variable stellar winds of Wolf-Rayet stars) 2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (x2) (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances) 2026-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (HRS-MR spectra of Classical Cepheids ) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-30

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: Dev, Nico, Thabelo (for mirror) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ What a deeply frustrating night! We battled with the mirror for nearly 6 hours before starting observations. The battle then shifted to variable thin/thick cloud affecting almost every exposure. Our one saving grace was good seeing and good IQ after the alignment. We completed 10 blocks, including a P0. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-29

SA: Lee SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Entire night lost to weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-28

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => This night was lost due to bad weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-27

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => The whole night was lost due to weather No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-26

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => Stable night with bright moon and good seeing. Mostly low priority targets were observed. Science data taken for: 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2025-2-MLT-001 P4 RSS (x5) (Toward a complete census of void galaxy properties in the Local Volume) 2024-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (x4) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2026-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-25

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => A clear night with a bright moon and very good seeing. Over 20 blocks were observed, but only a few of them were high priority. Science data taken for: 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2019-1-COM-001 P1 SCAM (Burst-mirror throughput test ) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (na) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (x3) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x8) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (x3) (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) 2026-1-SCI-001 P4 HRS (Tracing evolution of recent stellar merger remnants) 2024-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (x4) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-24

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => A stable night with very good images and a grey Moon. Half of the blocks observed were low priority; however, one P0-priority block and three P1-priority blocks were also observed. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-010 P0 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-001 P1 HRS (Tracing evolution of recent stellar merger remnants) 2024-1-MLT-010 P1 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances) 2026-1-SCI-008 P2 RSS (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-SCI-025 P3 RSS (x2) (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2026-1-SCI-007 P4 RSS (Observations of Rare and Fast Transients and their Hosts) 2026-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (x3) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) 2025-2-MLT-012 P4 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2025-2-MLT-001 P4 RSS (Toward a complete census of void galaxy properties in the Local Volume) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-23

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => The whole night was lost because of the bad weather No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-22

SA: Alexei SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ => Very unstable night when humidity make six waves from 30% till 80%. Finally we were closed by humidity. Make observations mainly for P3 and P4 blocks. Science data taken for: 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (x3) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (x2) (Studying the variable stellar winds of Wolf-Rayet stars) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2026-1-SCI-018 P3 RSS (Measuring distances to the largest known radio galaxies to understand how black hole jets grow.) 2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances) 2025-2-MLT-001 P4 RSS (Toward a complete census of void galaxy properties in the Local Volume) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) 2026-1-MLT-007 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic study of BLAP candidates) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-21

SA: Nikki SO: Fred Others: Rudi for supervision, Austun, Alexei and his better half for handover ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The night unfolded quietly, neither generous nor unkind. The conditions were only so-so, with the atmosphere wavering between moments of clarity and restless turbulence. Yet we stayed with it, patiently following the sky wherever it allowed us to look. Despite the fickle seeing, we gathered observation after observation, each one another thread woven into the tapestry of the night. The stars did not offer perfection, but they offered enough. Under a sky that seemed reluctant to reveal all its secrets, we listened carefully, collecting every whisper of light it was willing to share. By dawn, the telescope had traced countless paths across the heavens. It was not a flawless night, but it was a fruitful one - a reminder that discovery is often found not in perfect skies, but in quiet persistence beneath imperfect ones. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-015 P1 RSS (x2) (Investigation of activity among main-belt objects) 2026-1-SCI-021 P1 HRS (Charcaterizing eclisping binaries that have experienced unstable mass transfer) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-008 P2 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2026-1-SCI-008 P2 RSS (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2026-1-SCI-025 P3 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (x3) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (x5) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (x2) (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-20

SA: Nikki SO: Fred Others: Rudi + Wimpie still at work ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had okay conditions, the humidity was teasing us a little bit, but we were able to stay open. We observed a variety of blocks with a range of priorities. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-016 P1 RSS ("Understanding the peculiar collision geometry of the Cartwheel system") 2026-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (x2) (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2026-1-MLT-003 P2 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2025-2-MLT-008 P2 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (x3) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-SCI-006 P3 RSS (Longslit spectroscopic observations of the Cosmic Ammonite gravitational lens) 2025-2-MLT-012 P3 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2025-2-MLT-002 P3 RSS (Study of ionized gas in star-forming dwarf ring galaxies) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-19

SA: Nikki SO: Fred Others: Rudi ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had a brief humidity spike just after 10pm, but otherwise conditions were good and we managed to observe a good number of P0-2 blocks. The telescope was well-behaved tonight. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-010 P0 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2025-2-MLT-011 P0 RSS (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2026-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-015 P1 RSS (x3) (Investigation of activity among main-belt objects) 2026-1-SCI-021 P1 HRS (Charcaterizing eclisping binaries that have experienced unstable mass transfer) 2024-1-MLT-010 P1 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances) 2025-2-MLT-008 P2 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2025-2-MLT-002 P3 RSS (Study of ionized gas in star-forming dwarf ring galaxies) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2025-2-MLT-012 P3 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2026-1-MLT-002 P3 HRS (HRS-MR spectra of Classical Cepheids ) 2025-2-MLT-004 P3 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-18

SA: Nikki SO: Fred Others: Rudi + Wimpie for HRS major fault + SOMMI issue ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'twas a loooong night. We had quite a few technical hiccups, and conditions remained iffy throughout. The wind was constantly around the limit, and cloud cover persisted. We managed to do a few blocks, but we had to stick to bright targets, which meant a lot of time spent on P4s. We managed to do a ToO at the start of the night. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-012 P2 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2025-2-MLT-008 P2 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (x2) (Studying the variable stellar winds of Wolf-Rayet stars) 2026-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (x2) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2026-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x6) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-17

SA: Nikki SO: Fred Others: Rudi for damage control, UCT Physics HoD + family ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had medium weather conditions all night, with oddly smooth but opague-ish cloud coverage. Though it was good enough to stay open, we tried to err on the safe side and opt for brighter targets. Otherwise the night was positively uneventful. Science data taken for: 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2025-2-MLT-008 P2 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2026-1-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x3) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (x3) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2025-2-MLT-004 P3 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-16

SA: Nikki SO: Fred Others: Rudi, Wimpie for slitmask issue + HRS major fault ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had a good night with mostly clear conditions and good seeing, and managed to observe quite a few science blocks. There were some technical hiccups, but they were resolved relatively quickly. Clouds rolled in within the final hour of the night, so we closed a bit early. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-011 P0 RSS (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2025-2-MLT-008 P2 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2025-2-MLT-014 P2 RSS (Observations of a possible nova super-remnant around a CV.) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (x2) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2026-1-SCI-021 P3 HRS (x3) (Charcaterizing eclisping binaries that have experienced unstable mass transfer) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-15

SA: Rudi SO: Fred Others: Nikki ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A full night of observing. Mostly higher priority blocks observed with some technical downtime scattered throughout the night. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-011 P0 RSS (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2026-1-SCI-001 P1 HRS (Tracing evolution of recent stellar merger remnants) 2026-1-SCI-016 P1 RSS ("Understanding the peculiar collision geometry of the Cartwheel system") 2026-1-SCI-021 P1 HRS (Charcaterizing eclisping binaries that have experienced unstable mass transfer) 2026-1-SCI-003 P2 RSS (The rapid stages of final stellar evolution caught in the act) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2024-1-MLT-010 P2 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-008 P2 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2025-2-MLT-004 P2 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (x2) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-14

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: Rudi, Nikki, Fred, E10 and Eben ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A long night with good weather and improved seeing. We observed fourteen blocks including a P0 and several P1, P2 and P3 blocks. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2026-1-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Exploring accretion modes of GRGs to gain insights into their feedback mechanisms.) 2025-2-MLT-005 P1 RSS (IFU observations of nearby MHONGOOSE galaxies) 2025-2-MLT-014 P1 RSS (Observations of a possible nova super-remnant around a CV.) 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2026-1-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Decoding the star formation history of Arp 261) 2025-2-MLT-012 P3 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2026-1-SCI-014 P3 RSS (x2) (What galaxies cause odd radio circles (ORCs)?) 2026-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (Studying the variable stellar winds of Wolf-Rayet stars) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-13

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: E10, Eben ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another long night with good weather, we managed to observe seventeen blocks including a P0 and several P1, P2 and P3 and a just one P4. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-010 P0 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2026-1-SCI-021 P1 HRS (Charcaterizing eclisping binaries that have experienced unstable mass transfer) 2026-1-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Finding presence of Supermassive black hole binaries in quasars) 2026-1-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Exploring accretion modes of GRGs to gain insights into their feedback mechanisms.) 2026-1-SCI-009 P2 RSS (Extreme variability in the BLR of the AGN HE2129-3356) 2025-2-MLT-004 P2 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2026-1-SCI-025 P2 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2025-2-MLT-008 P2 HRS (Monitoring beta Pic for exocomets.) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2025-2-MLT-012 P3 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2026-1-SCI-018 P3 RSS (Measuring distances to the largest known radio galaxies to understand how black hole jets grow.) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (x2) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-12

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: Eben ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The first half of the night was lost to bad weather but we managed to observe seven blocks including a P0. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-007 P0 RSS (Observations of Rare and Fast Transients and their Hosts) 2026-1-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Exploring accretion modes of GRGs to gain insights into their feedback mechanisms.) 2025-2-MLT-004 P3 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-11

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: Kotaro Daimon, Shuma Makia ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The whole night was lost due to bad weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-10

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The whole night was lost to bad weather and high humidity. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-09

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another long night with clear weather, we observed several blocks - mostly P2 and P3. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2025-2-MLT-014 P1 RSS (Observations of a possible nova super-remnant around a CV.) 2026-1-MLT-004 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.) 2026-1-SCI-007 P2 RSS (Observations of Rare and Fast Transients and their Hosts) 2026-1-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Decoding the star formation history of Arp 261) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (x2) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2026-1-SCI-025 P3 RSS (x3) (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-08

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A good night of observations with good weather and stable seeing. We managed to observe 13 Science blocks including a P0 and several P1s, P2s, P3s and a P4. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-011 P0 RSS (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2025-2-MLT-014 P1 RSS (Observations of a possible nova super-remnant around a CV.) 2025-2-MLT-001 P1 RSS (Toward a complete census of void galaxy properties in the Local Volume) 2026-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements) 2026-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HRS HS Commissioning ) 2026-1-SCI-003 P2 RSS (The rapid stages of final stellar evolution caught in the act) 2026-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (Spectroscopic study of BLAP candidates) 2026-1-SCI-014 P3 RSS (What galaxies cause odd radio circles (ORCs)?) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2026-1-SCI-018 P3 RSS (Measuring distances to the largest known radio galaxies to understand how black hole jets grow.) 2026-1-SCI-025 P3 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-07

SA: Antoine SO: Austun Others: Sam, Eben, Thabelo, and Michael are here for the dome issue, and Zwido is here for the handover. Anthony for PCON ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apart from some downtime due to technical problems, this is our last full night. We again managed to observe many blocks. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-011 P0 RSS (Obtaining dynamical information and constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales) 2025-2-MLT-005 P1 RSS (IFU observations of nearby MHONGOOSE galaxies) 2026-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements) 2026-1-SCI-025 P1 RSS (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Decoding the star formation history of Arp 261) 2026-1-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2026-1-SCI-003 P2 RSS (The rapid stages of final stellar evolution caught in the act) 2026-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (Spectroscopic study of BLAP candidates) 2026-1-MLT-003 P2 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2026-1-SCI-004 P3 HRS (x2) (Studying the variable stellar winds of Wolf-Rayet stars) 2024-2-LSP-002 P3 RSS (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-06

SA: Antoine SO: Austun Others: Sam for TimDimm ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We had a good night with stable seeing and we managed to observe many blocks of mixed priority. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-013 P0 SCAM (Observing new near Earth asteroids) 2026-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (x4) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements) 2026-1-SCI-025 P2 RSS (x3) (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2025-2-MLT-004 P2 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2026-1-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Decoding the star formation history of Arp 261) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (na) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2024-2-LSP-002 P3 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-05

SA: Antoine SO: Austun Others: Anthony for PCON ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another full night, during which we again managed to observe many blocks of different priorities. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (Study of galaxy properties of galaxy group HIPASS 1059-09) 2026-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Optical study of an omega-tail radio galaxy) 2025-2-MLT-013 P1 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements) 2026-1-SCI-021 P1 HRS (Charcaterizing eclisping binaries that have experienced unstable mass transfer) 2026-1-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Determining mass of 2 Brown Dwarfs orbiting WD stars using Radial Velocities) 2026-1-SCI-025 P2 RSS (x2) (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2026-1-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Decoding the star formation history of Arp 261) 2024-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-003 P2 RSS (The rapid stages of final stellar evolution caught in the act) 2026-1-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Extreme variability in the BLR of the Seyfert AGN J0259-2422) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x4) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2024-2-LSP-002 P3 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-04

SA: Antoine SO: Austun Others: Thabelo, Sam and Anthony ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apart from some downtime due to technical problems, this could be our second full night with stable weather. We again managed to observe many blocks, mostly the high-priority ones. Science data taken for: 2026-1-SCI-010 P0 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2026-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (x2) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements) 2026-1-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Finding presence of Supermassive black hole binaries in quasars) 2025-2-MLT-013 P1 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-DDT-002 P1 HRS (Monitoring of stellar activity of solar analog star) 2024-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x3) (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Optical study of an omega-tail radio galaxy) 2026-1-DDT-005 P1 RSS (DDT SN2007it) 2025-2-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Study of galaxy properties of galaxy group HIPASS 1059-09) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x4) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2026-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (x2) (RSS longslit observations of Hickson Compact Groups) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (x2) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-03

SA: Antoine SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This was our first stable, full night, and we managed to observe many blocks across different priority levels Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients) 2024-2-COM-002 P1 RSS (This is a commissioning proposal) 2026-1-SCI-005 P1 HRS (na) 2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT) 2026-1-SCI-001 P1 HRS (Tracing evolution of recent stellar merger remnants) 2026-1-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2025-2-MLT-012 P2 HRS (x2) (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2026-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopic study of BLAP candidates) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x9) (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) 2025-2-MLT-013 P3 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2025-2-MLT-004 P3 HRS (x2) (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2024-2-LSP-002 P3 RSS (x2) (Pan-African AGN survey using SALT/IFS: tracing the properties of AGN and their host galaxies) 2026-1-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Ovservations of ssrAp stars) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Log 2026-07-02

SA: Antoine SO: Austun Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The weather kept us closed for most of the night and we only observed 3 blocks. Science data taken for: 2026-1-MLT-002 P1 HRS (HRS-MR spectra of Classical Cepheids ) 2026-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2024-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of compact heirarchial triples) ------------------------------------------------------------------------