Night Log 2026-10-20

SA: Zwidofhela SO: Veronica Others: JC and Rudi (for Handover), Lisa working on HRS things ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The whole night was lost due to bad weather: strong wind withs gusts exceeding 50 km/h. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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