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