SA: Zwidofhela SO: Austun Others: Rudi, Thabelo, Wimpie, Beeping Sound ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The telescope is still offline due to damaged tracker guide rail problems. No science data were taken. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
SALT Astronomy
Friday, May 22, 2026
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Night Log 2026-05-20
SA: Zwidofhela SO: Austun Others: Rudi, Lee, Danièl, Steve, Ramotholo, Itumeleng, Brazil Delegations, Duduzile, Lebo, Carel, JC, Koketso, Joleen, Collins ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Night lost to bad weather and no science data were taken. It was a very long night that kicked-off with rain, thunderstorms and hail. Two groups of special guests visited the operations room tonight. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Night Log 2026-05-19
SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night due to bad weather. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Night Log 2026-05-18
SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: Lynn-Joy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lost the whole night due to bad weather - thick cloud, high humidity, lightning and a little drizzle. No science data taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, May 18, 2026
Night Log 2026-05-17
SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: Lynn-Joy, Shamiel, Wimpie, The Ghost ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Most of the night had thin to thick clouds around but the seeing was stable and good so we were able to observe many blocks. Science data taken for: 2025-2-MLT-004 P1 HRS (Radial Velocity Monitoring and Atmospheric Parameters Study of Yellow Symbiotic Giants) 2026-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (x3) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements) 2025-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (x2) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids) 2026-1-SCI-010 P1 RSS (High cadence spectroscopy of white dwarf pulsar J191213-44) 2025-2-MLT-013 P2 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 2026-1-MLT-006 P2 RSS (x2) (Search for new Galactic symbiotic stars) 2026-1-SCI-005 P2 HRS (na) 2026-1-MLT-002 P2 HRS (x2) (HRS-MR spectra of Classical Cepheids ) 2026-1-MLT-004 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.) 2025-2-MLT-012 P4 HRS (Search for binary stars which may form planetary nebulae.) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Night Log 2026-05-16
SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: Lynn-Joy, Wimpie ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conditions were good and stable tonight, good seeing and mostly clear skies. And despite some trouble with the mirror and IQ we managed to observe many high priority blocks. Science data taken for: 2025-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (x5) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids) 2026-1-SCI-025 P1 RSS (x2) (We are probing the large scale outflows in bright quasars through absorption spectroscopy.) 2026-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements) 2025-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (Study of galaxy properties of galaxy group HIPASS 1059-09) 2025-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Unraveling the enigmatic variability of AE Cir system with SALT) 2024-1-MLT-010 P1 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances) 2025-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for UV signatures of outflowing winds in quasars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Night Log 2026-05-15
SA: Moses SO: Veronica Others: Lynn-Joy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The conditions were mostly okay and stable: good seeing and decently clear skies. We managed to observe many high priority blocks despite some problems with the mirror. Science data taken for: 2024-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients) 2026-1-SCI-022 P1 RSS (x4) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements) 2025-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (x4) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids) 2026-1-NOIR-001 P1 RSS (Rapid follow-up of supernovae shortly after explosion) 2025-2-MLT-013 P2 RSS (Searching for double hydrogen-deficient stars) 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) 2025-2-LSP-001 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue) ------------------------------------------------------------------------