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) ------------------------------------------------------------------------