Thursday, November 30, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-29

SA: Petri
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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A clear productive night, but with poor seeing. No problems whatsoever.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Searching interacting binaries with compact objects in the smallest and oldest galaxies)
2017-2-SCI-026 P1 RSS (Study of late-time supernovae spectra)
2017-2-SCI-022 P2 HRS (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-039 P2 RSS (x2) (Probing the structure of relativistic jets of AGN with SALT, Gaia and VLBI.)
2017-1-MLT-012 P3 HRS (Detailled study of CEMP stars identified in the RAVE survey)
2017-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2017-2-SCI-021 P3 HRS (Spectroscopic investigation of selected southern lambda Boo - type stars)
2017-2-SCI-030 P3 HRS (x2) (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-28

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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A beautiful clear night but with rather variable seeing.



Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Searching interacting binaries with compact objects in the smallest and oldest galaxies)
2017-2-SCI-042 P1 RSS (The central molecular zones of southern galaxies)
2017-2-SCI-026 P1 RSS (Study of late-time supernovae spectra)
2017-2-SCI-041 P2 HRS (x2) (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)
2017-2-SCI-022 P2 HRS (x2) (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-021 P3 HRS (Spectroscopic investigation of selected southern lambda Boo - type stars)
2017-2-SCI-030 P3 HRS (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)
2017-2-SCI-027 P3 HRS (Measuring the orbits of double white dwarfs.)

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-27

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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A beautiful, clear night and productive night with decent seeing and only a bit of cloud in the middle.


Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Searching interacting binaries with compact objects in the smallest and oldest galaxies)
2017-1-MLT-014 P1 RSS (Measuring redshifts for galaxies in the MeerKAT LADUMA survey)
2017-2-SCI-051 P1 RSS (spectroscopic identification of ultra compact binary candidates)
2017-2-SCI-042 P2 RSS (The central molecular zones of southern galaxies)
2017-2-SCI-022 P2 HRS (x2) (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-008 P2 RSS (x2) (Survey of V-type asteroids outside the Vesta family)
2017-2-SCI-037 P3 RSS (x2) (Study of unclassified extragalactic NuSTAR serendipitous sources)

Monday, November 27, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-26

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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A clear night with very variable seeing and a few technical problems, including a problem with RSS. The relative humidity forced us to close at 2:30am.


Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-013 P1 HRS (On the orbital period of a roAp star @dlhwp)
2017-2-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Measuring the orbits of double white dwarfs.)
2017-2-SCI-041 P2 HRS (x2) (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)
2017-2-SCI-029 P3 HRS (Spectroscopy of TESS targets)
2017-2-SCI-030 P3 HRS (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)
2017-1-MLT-010 P4 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-25

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Paul, film crew: Frederic Courbin, Matt Goodman and Jean-Paul Kneib

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Summary
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We started with a gorgeous (cloudy) sunset, in oranges, reds and pinks. The clouds gradually disappeared and left us with a pretty good, productive night.
We also hosted a film crew at the beginning of the night.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-2-SCI-026 P1 RSS (Study of late-time supernovae spectra)
2017-2-SCI-022 P1 HRS (x2) (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-006 P2 RSS (Gas dynamics in NGC300 and NGC4945)
2017-2-SCI-041 P2 HRS (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)
2017-2-SCI-027 P2 HRS (x2) (Measuring the orbits of double white dwarfs.)
2017-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2017-2-SCI-030 P3 HRS (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)
2017-2-SCI-057 P3 RSS (For this specific proposal we proposed three galaxies to be observed.)

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-24

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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There was some cloud around at sunset that mostly disappeared at the beginning of the night, but slowly got thicker and forced us to close at around 2am.

Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-022 P1 HRS (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-006 P2 RSS (Gas dynamics in NGC300 and NGC4945)
2017-1-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x3) (Study of long-period eclipsing binaries)
2017-2-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Studying the composition of Binary stars to estimate their ages)
2015-2-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)

Friday, November 24, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-23

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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A beautiful night with OK seeing, but unfortunately we were forced to close early due to high relative humidity. We managed to open up again in twilight for some calibrations, and the humidity started to climb again!


Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-049 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of supernova candidates for further investigations of dark energy)
2016-2-MLT-005 P1 HRS (Investigating the chemical composition of bright star beta Pic and its nearby circumstellar material)
2017-2-SCI-039 P2 RSS (x2) (Probing the structure of relativistic jets of AGN with SALT, Gaia and VLBI.)
2017-2-SCI-056 P2 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2017-2-SCI-030 P3 HRS (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-22

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Stephen H. doing acquisitions, Eben for a visit with a thermal camera

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Summary
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A very productive, beautiful, mostly dark night. It started with a quick check with a thermal camera to ensure there are no heat sources in the dome (just in case!) and then it was all science, with rather annoying seeing at the beginning of the night but it got better.


Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-2-SCI-022 P1 HRS (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Measuring the orbits of double white dwarfs.)
2017-1-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Study of long-period eclipsing binaries)
2017-2-SCI-030 P3 HRS (x3) (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-21

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Encarni (for handover), Stephen Hulme. Visitors: Stella Kafka, Michel Dennefeld, Emma Longstaff, Matt Burleigh, Steven Bloemen.

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Summary
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Freezing night with high humidity and clouds. Eventually it started snowing in the early morning.

No science data taken.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-20

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Stephen and Clare Hulme

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Summary
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Cloudy night.

Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-057 P3 RSS (x2) (For this specific proposal we proposed three galaxies to be observed.)

Monday, November 20, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-19

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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Cloudy night with reasonable seeing. Almost 3 hours lost to a technical issue.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-1-MLT-014 P1 RSS (Measuring redshifts for galaxies in the MeerKAT LADUMA survey)
2017-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Searching interacting binaries with compact objects in the smallest and oldest galaxies)
2017-2-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Measuring the orbits of double white dwarfs.)
2017-2-SCI-030 P3 HRS (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)
2017-1-MLT-012 P3 HRS (Detailled study of CEMP stars identified in the RAVE survey)

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-18

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: David Buckley & 8 Russians

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Summary
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Clear moonless night with variable seeing.

Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-049 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of supernova candidates for further investigations of dark energy)
2017-1-MLT-014 P1 RSS (Measuring redshifts for galaxies in the MeerKAT LADUMA survey)
2017-2-SCI-051 P1 RSS (spectroscopic identification of ultra compact binary candidates)
2017-2-SCI-034 P1 RSS (Lya halos around QSOs)
2017-2-SCI-009 P1 RSS (Searching for galaxies associated with strong Mg II absorbers.)
2017-2-MLT-001 P1 RSS (qSpectral survey of candidate unusual nearby void dwarfs)
2017-2-SCI-026 P1 RSS (Study of late-time supernovae spectra)
2017-2-SCI-056 P2 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2017-2-MLT-006 P2 HRS (x2) (Studying the composition of Binary stars to estimate their ages)
2017-2-SCI-041 P2 HRS (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-17

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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Very cloudy night with reasonable seeing.

Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-051 P1 RSS (spectroscopic identification of ultra compact binary candidates)
2017-2-MLT-006 P2 HRS (Studying the composition of Binary stars to estimate their ages)
2017-2-SCI-041 P2 HRS (x2) (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)
2017-2-SCI-001 P2 RSS (Line profile variations in RX J0622.6-2318)
2017-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (x2) (Studying newly-identified Irregular Variable Stars)
2017-2-SCI-056 P2 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2017-2-SCI-006 P2 RSS (Gas dynamics in NGC300 and NGC4945)
2017-1-MLT-004 P4 RSS (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)

Friday, November 17, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-16

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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Clear night with variable seeing.

Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-041 P1 HRS (x3) (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)
2016-2-MLT-005 P1 HRS (Investigating the chemical composition of bright star beta Pic and its nearby circumstellar material)
2017-2-SCI-051 P1 RSS (spectroscopic identification of ultra compact binary candidates)
2017-2-SCI-022 P1 HRS (x2) (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-056 P2 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2017-2-SCI-050 P2 RSS (Observing candidate misaligned active galactic nuclei for redshift determination and classification.)

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-15

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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Night lost to weather.

No science data taken.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-14

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Blaine (in the driver seat)

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Summary
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The whole night lost to bad weather.

No science data taken.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-13

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Blaine (Driving the Telescope)

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Summary
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The whole night lost to weather. We did some closed dome test though.

No science data taken.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-12

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Blaine ( Driving the telescope again tonight)

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Summary
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A rather poor night. We managed only one block before the clouds stopped us.

Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Searching interacting binaries with compact objects in the smallest and oldest galaxies)

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-11

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Blaine (in the driving seat tonight)

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Summary
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Decent night of observing. No weather or technical downtime.
Completed mostly high priority blocks tonight.

Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-049 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of supernova candidates for further investigations of dark energy)
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-1-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Intermediate mass black holes in star-forming galaxies)
2017-2-SCI-056 P1 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2017-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Searching interacting binaries with compact objects in the smallest and oldest galaxies)
2017-2-SCI-041 P1 HRS (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)
2017-2-MLT-001 P1 RSS (qSpectral survey of candidate unusual nearby void dwarfs)
2017-2-SCI-022 P1 HRS (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-051 P1 RSS (spectroscopic identification of ultra compact binary candidates)
2017-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-10

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Blaine

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Summary
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A relatively good night with average seeing. The clouds forced us to close about 30 minutes early.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-2-SCI-035 P1 RSS (The nature of the most extreme starburst galaxies )
2017-2-MLT-001 P1 RSS (x2) (qSpectral survey of candidate unusual nearby void dwarfs)
2017-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Searching interacting binaries with compact objects in the smallest and oldest galaxies)
2017-2-SCI-022 P1 HRS (x2) (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-030 P3 HRS (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)
2017-2-SCI-010 P3 RSS (Characterising Pulsating Stars @dlhwp)

Friday, November 10, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-09

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Blaine

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Summary
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A really good night a few high priority targets observed. The relative humidity forced us to close ~ 40 minutes early though.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-2-SCI-049 P0 RSS (SALT spectroscopic follow-up of supernova candidates for further investigations of dark energy)
2017-2-SCI-041 P1 HRS (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)
2017-2-SCI-022 P1 HRS (x2) (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-056 P1 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Velocity Function)
2017-2-SCI-035 P1 RSS (The nature of the most extreme starburst galaxies )
2017-2-SCI-026 P1 RSS (Study of late-time supernovae spectra)

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-08

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Blaine

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Summary
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Not the best of nights with heavy cloud cover and thunderstorms at the start of the night. We managed to get some observations towards the end of the night.

Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-022 P1 HRS (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-07

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others: Rudi for handover, Jon from LCO, Wily the spider, Blaine and Jenn.

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Summary
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A night with moderately good weather conditions, that was cut short by high humidity shortly after midnight.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-MLT-005 P1 HRS (Investigating the chemical composition of bright star beta Pic and its nearby circumstellar material)
2017-2-SCI-041 P2 HRS (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)
2017-2-SCI-030 P3 HRS (x5) (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)
2017-1-MLT-012 P4 HRS (x2) (Detailled study of CEMP stars identified in the RAVE survey)

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-06

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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A productive night, with relatively good weather conditions.

Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-022 P1 HRS (x2) (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-017 P1 HRS (HRS observations of symbiotic stars)
2017-2-SCI-027 P2 HRS (Measuring the orbits of double white dwarfs.)
2017-2-SCI-007 P2 HRS (Searching for heavy-metal subdwarfs and extreme-helium stars. )
2016-2-LSP-001 P3 HRS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-2-SCI-040 P3 RSS (x2) (Searching for new symbiotic stars)
2017-1-MLT-012 P3 HRS (x2) (Detailled study of CEMP stars identified in the RAVE survey)
2017-2-SCI-030 P3 HRS (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)
2017-1-MLT-010 P4 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)

Monday, November 6, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-05

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others: Willy the spider

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Summary
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A fairly productive night, despite a seeing being not particularly good, specially towards the end of the night.


Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-017 P1 HRS (HRS observations of symbiotic stars)
2017-2-SCI-058 P1 RSS (Study of the spectroscopic properties of galaxies in the Abell 2631 galaxy cluster.)
2017-2-SCI-022 P1 HRS (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2017-2-SCI-041 P1 HRS (x11) (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)
2017-2-SCI-010 P3 RSS (Characterising Pulsating Stars @dlhwp)
2017-2-SCI-007 P3 HRS (Searching for heavy-metal subdwarfs and extreme-helium stars. )
2017-2-SCI-030 P3 HRS (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)
2017-1-MLT-010 P4 HRS (x2) (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-04

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others: David, Enrico, Marissa and the chinese delegation, Brian.

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Summary
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A very productive night, with relatively good conditions, and many programs observed.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-2-SCI-017 P1 HRS (HRS observations of symbiotic stars)
2017-2-SCI-022 P1 HRS (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2016-2-MLT-005 P1 HRS (Investigating the chemical composition of bright star beta Pic and its nearby circumstellar material)
2017-2-SCI-041 P1 HRS (x7) (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)
2017-2-SCI-001 P2 RSS (Line profile variations in RX J0622.6-2318)
2017-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Studying newly-identified Irregular Variable Stars)
2017-2-SCI-040 P2 RSS (x8) (Searching for new symbiotic stars)

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-03

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others: Willy the spider

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Summary
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A fairly productive night. Weather forced us to close half of the time, but then, the weather cleared and we could finish the night observing.


Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-017 P1 HRS (HRS observations of symbiotic stars)
2017-2-SCI-041 P1 HRS (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)
2017-1-MLT-010 P4 HRS (x2) (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2017-2-SCI-022 P4 HRS (x2) (Measuring the interstellar abundance of lithium in the Large Magellanic Cloud)

Friday, November 3, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-02

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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All night lost to weather

No science data taken.

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Night Log 2017-11-01

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others: Visitors from LCO, Christian and family

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Summary
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No data taken, all night lost to weather.

No science data taken.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Night Log 2017-10-31

SA: Marissa
SO: Veronica
Others: Naomi & Mokhine (SAAO PhD students) in the driver's seat(s). Eric for handover. Enrico.

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Summary
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Night lost to thunderstorms. Very thankful for the rain, since we�re suffering such a severe drought.

No science data taken.