Friday, August 31, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-30

SA: Brent
SO: Veronica
Others: Lisa

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Summary
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A tricky night with clouds and a few tech issues.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-SCI-021 P1 RSS (Reverberation mapping of a low-z AGN)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2018-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (Physical paremeter determination for a Cepheid in an eclipsing binary system.)
2018-1-MLT-012 P1 HRS (x2) (Spectral monitoring of supposed Be+WD binaries)
2017-1-MLT-010 P2 HRS (x5) (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2017-1-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Study of long-period eclipsing binaries)
2017-2-SCI-042 P2 RSS (The central molecular zones of southern galaxies)
2016-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2018-1-SCI-037 P3 RSS (Reverberation mapping of active galactic nuclei.)
2018-1-SCI-017 P3 HRS (Metal-Poor Subdwarfs for Stellar Modeling Calibration)
2018-1-SCI-016 P4 HRS (Characterising the host star and protoplanetary disk environment in nearby young star systems)

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-29

SA: Brent
SO: Veronica
Others: Taka and colleagues

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Summary
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A very good night with a mix of RSS and HRS observations.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-SCI-012 P0 RSS (Studying the spectral evolution of a blended grav. microlensing event @CosmicRambler @_sublunar_)
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2018-1-MLT-005 P2 HRS (x3) (HRS observations of symbiotic stars)
2018-1-SCI-008 P2 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2017-1-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Intermediate mass black holes in star-forming galaxies)
2018-1-SCI-007 P2 HRS (Measuring the orbits of double white dwarfs. @_sublunar_)
2018-1-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2017-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (x4) (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2017-1-MLT-004 P3 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-28

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Brent (SA for the first hour), Veronica. Ramotholo & DST visitors

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Summary
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A clear night with decent seeing was perfect to welcome HRS back on sky.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-SCI-012 P0 HRS (Studying the spectral evolution of a blended grav. microlensing event @CosmicRambler @_sublunar_)
2018-1-MLT-007 P1 HRS (Physical paremeter determination for a Cepheid in an eclipsing binary system.)
2018-1-MLT-005 P1 HRS (x3) (HRS observations of symbiotic stars)
2018-1-SCI-015 P1 HRS (Characterising the host star and protoplanetary disk environment in nearby young star systems)
2018-1-MLT-013 P1 HRS (Asteroseismology of close binary systems with mass transfer.)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2017-1-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Study of long-period eclipsing binaries)
2017-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (x4) (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2018-1-SCI-037 P3 RSS (Reverberation mapping of active galactic nuclei.)
2017-1-MLT-012 P3 HRS (Detailled study of CEMP stars identified in the RAVE survey)

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-27

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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Icy today and some occasional snowflakes. Another sub-zero night with a thick layer of ice everywhere.

No science data taken.

Monday, August 27, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-26

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Lisa, Enrico

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Summary
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Sub-zero temperatures all day and snow during the morning and afternoon.

No science data taken.

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-25

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico

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Summary
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Night lost to bad weather.

No science data taken.

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-24

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Lisa, Willie, Enrico

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Summary
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HRS on-sky tests during the second half of the night.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2018-1-SCI-006 P3 RSS (Population study of stellar rotation rates in open clusters)
2017-1-MLT-010 P4 HRS (x6) (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2018-1-SCI-038 P4 RSS (x2) (Exploring the chemistry of faint blue stars)
2017-1-MLT-012 P4 HRS (x4) (Detailled study of CEMP stars identified in the RAVE survey)
2017-2-SCI-020 P4 RSS (x2) (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)

Friday, August 24, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-23

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Lisa, Eben, Richard, Mark, Alrin, Willie, Enrico, Timmy

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Summary
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A bright clear night with variable seeing and some technical issues.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2018-1-SCI-037 P3 RSS (Reverberation mapping of active galactic nuclei.)
2018-1-SCI-008 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2017-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)
2017-2-SCI-020 P4 RSS (x5) (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)
2018-1-SCI-038 P4 RSS (x6) (Exploring the chemistry of faint blue stars)

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-22

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Lisa, Eben, Thabelo, Enrico

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Summary
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Productivity for this bright clear night, with mostly good seeing, was somewhat hampered by technical difficulties and the fact that HRS is not ready for use yet. However we did observe a ToO that was added during the night.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-MLT-006 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2018-1-SCI-006 P1 RSS (Population study of stellar rotation rates in open clusters)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2017-1-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Intermediate mass black holes in star-forming galaxies)
2018-1-SCI-008 P2 RSS (x2) (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2018-1-SCI-038 P4 RSS (x4) (Exploring the chemistry of faint blue stars)
2017-2-SCI-020 P4 RSS (x3) (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-21

SA: Rajin
SO: Thea
Others: Lisa, Enrico, Etienne, Marissa (For handover)

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Summary
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Another productive night with lots of data observed. Unfortunately rising humidity forced us to closed with one and a half hour left to morning twilight.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-SCI-021 P1 RSS (Reverberation mapping of a low-z AGN)
2018-1-SCI-019 P1 RSS (Searching for galaxies associated with strong Mg II absorbers)
2018-1-SCI-006 P1 RSS (Population study of stellar rotation rates in open clusters)
2018-1-SCI-009 P1 RSS (Variability of broad absorption lines)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2017-2-SCI-037 P2 RSS (Study of unclassified extragalactic NuSTAR serendipitous sources)
2018-1-SCI-008 P2 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2016-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-2-SCI-042 P3 RSS (The central molecular zones of southern galaxies)
2018-1-SCI-037 P3 RSS (Reverberation mapping of active galactic nuclei.)
2018-1-SCI-038 P4 RSS (x2) (Exploring the chemistry of faint blue stars)
2017-2-SCI-020 P4 RSS (x4) (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-20

SA: Rajin
SO: Thea
Others: Lisa

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Summary
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No science taken tonight due to cloudy and humid weather.

No science data taken.

Monday, August 20, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-19

SA: Rajin
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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No science data taken tonight due to very cloudy conditions.

No science data taken.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-18

SA: Rajin
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Another productive night where managed to get quite some interesting data taken.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2018-1-MLT-011 P1 RSS (The nature of the most extreme starburst galaxies )
2018-1-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Star-formation history and chemical evolution of low surface brightness dwarf galaxies)
2017-2-SCI-037 P2 RSS (Study of unclassified extragalactic NuSTAR serendipitous sources)
2018-1-SCI-005 P2 RSS (x2) (Lyman alpha halo around high-z quasars)
2016-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (x3) (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2018-1-SCI-008 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2018-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (Spectral study of starforming rings in S0 galaxies)
2017-1-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2018-1-SCI-038 P4 RSS (x2) (Exploring the chemistry of faint blue stars)

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-17

SA: Rajin
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Rather productive night with some interesting data taken even though we lost time due to the weather and due to some issue with the waveplates of the polarimetry mode on RSS.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2018-1-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Star-formation history and chemical evolution of low surface brightness dwarf galaxies)
2017-2-SCI-037 P1 RSS (Study of unclassified extragalactic NuSTAR serendipitous sources)
2018-1-SCI-009 P1 RSS (Variability of broad absorption lines)
2018-1-SCI-032 P1 RSS (Searching for AGN undetected in X-ray surveys.)
2018-1-MLT-011 P1 RSS (The nature of the most extreme starburst galaxies )
2018-1-SCI-038 P2 RSS (Exploring the chemistry of faint blue stars)
2018-1-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Spectral study of starforming rings in S0 galaxies)
2018-1-SCI-037 P3 RSS (Reverberation mapping of active galactic nuclei.)
2018-1-SCI-008 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2017-1-MLT-004 P3 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2017-2-SCI-020 P4 RSS (x2) (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)

Friday, August 17, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-16

SA: Rajin
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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We managed to observed 2 blocks of data tonight before bad weather forced us to closed.

Science data taken for:
2017-1-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2018-1-SCI-038 P4 RSS (Exploring the chemistry of faint blue stars)

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-15

SA: Rajin
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Productive night with some high priority targets observed. Seeing oscillated quite a bit around 2''. We encountered a major fault on the RSS guider in the last hour prior to twilight.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-SCI-012 P0 RSS (Studying the spectral evolution of a blended grav. microlensing event @CosmicRambler @_sublunar_)
2018-1-SCI-032 P1 RSS (Searching for AGN undetected in X-ray surveys.)
2018-1-MLT-011 P1 RSS (The nature of the most extreme starburst galaxies )
2018-1-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Star-formation history and chemical evolution of low surface brightness dwarf galaxies)
2018-1-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Searching for small-scale pairs of quasars and galaxies.)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2018-1-SCI-005 P2 RSS (Lyman alpha halo around high-z quasars)
2015-2-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2018-1-SCI-037 P3 RSS (Reverberation mapping of active galactic nuclei.)
2017-2-SCI-042 P3 RSS (x2) (The central molecular zones of southern galaxies)
2017-1-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2016-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2018-1-SCI-038 P4 RSS (Exploring the chemistry of faint blue stars)

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-14

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Rajin

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Summary
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A full night of observing with many high priority targets observed.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-SCI-005 P1 RSS (Lyman alpha halo around high-z quasars)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2017-1-MLT-014 P1 RSS (Measuring redshifts for galaxies in the MeerKAT LADUMA survey)
2018-1-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Star-formation history and chemical evolution of low surface brightness dwarf galaxies)
2017-1-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x2) (Intermediate mass black holes in star-forming galaxies)
2018-1-DDT-007 P1 HRS (Verifying cluster membership of a PN)
2017-2-SCI-037 P1 RSS (Study of unclassified extragalactic NuSTAR serendipitous sources)
2018-1-SCI-002 P1 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Galaxy Velocity Function)
2018-1-MLT-014 P1 RSS (Probing the optical counterparts of high energy sources)
2018-1-SCI-006 P2 RSS (Population study of stellar rotation rates in open clusters)
2017-2-SCI-042 P2 RSS (The central molecular zones of southern galaxies)
2018-1-MLT-006 P3 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-13

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Paul, Etienne, Stephen (got the guide probes online at the start of the night).

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Summary
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No data taken tonight. We had some engineering downtime for the RSS guide probes at the start of the night before the humidity didn't allow us to open at all for the rest of the night.

No science data taken.

Monday, August 13, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-12

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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A relatively good night. Started late due to clouds, but managed to observe a number of high priority targets.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Star-formation history and chemical evolution of low surface brightness dwarf galaxies)
2018-1-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Searching for small-scale pairs of quasars and galaxies.)
2018-1-SCI-002 P1 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Galaxy Velocity Function)
2018-1-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Spectral study of starforming rings in S0 galaxies)
2018-1-SCI-019 P3 RSS (Searching for galaxies associated with strong Mg II absorbers)
2018-1-SCI-037 P3 RSS (Reverberation mapping of active galactic nuclei.)
2017-2-SCI-020 P4 RSS (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-11

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Stephanie, Jonothan

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Summary
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Managed to get some blocks observed. We were interrupted by clouds for a few hours in the middle of the night.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-MLT-006 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2018-1-SCI-002 P1 RSS (Measuring Galaxy Kinematics For Construction of the Galaxy Velocity Function)
2018-1-MLT-011 P1 RSS (The nature of the most extreme starburst galaxies )
2017-1-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Intermediate mass black holes in star-forming galaxies)
2017-2-SCI-042 P3 RSS (The central molecular zones of southern galaxies)

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-10

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Stephanie, Lisa, Etienne, Johnathan, Mark

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Summary
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Managed to get one block observed before we were forced to close by high humidity.

Science data taken for:
2017-1-MLT-010 P3 RSS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)

Friday, August 10, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-09

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Janus, Deneys, Anthony, Stephen (on Skype), Stephanie, Lisa, Quentin Parker, Vasiliki Fragkou

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Summary
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Managed to get one block observed before a very nice DDT proposal, but then the humidity forced us to close.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-SCI-005 P1 RSS (Lyman alpha halo around high-z quasars)
2018-1-DDT-007 P1 HRS (Verifying cluster membership of a PN)

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-08

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Janus, Deneys, Ant, StephenH over Skype, Timmy (start of the night), Etienne (start of the night), Paul (watched the first observation being done)

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Summary
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Managed to get some blocks observed tonight before the humidity forced us to close. Conditions were not that great with variable seeing for most of the night.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-MLT-012 P1 HRS (Spectral monitoring of supposed Be+WD binaries)
2018-1-SCI-032 P2 RSS (Searching for AGN undetected in X-ray surveys.)
2017-1-MLT-010 P2 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2018-1-MLT-009 P3 HRS (Follow-up of interesting binaries and high-order multiple systems uncovered with the Gaia-ESO Survey)

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-06

SA: ��ric
SO: Thea
Others: Deneys, Janus, Ant

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Summary
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The first part of the night was used for engineering tests, and then the weather prevented us from opening.


No science data taken.

Monday, August 6, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-05

SA: ��ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Weather prevented us from opening at all.

No science data taken.

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-04

SA: ��ric
SO: Thea
Others: Patrick Woudt and guests

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Summary
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All night lost to weather.

No science data taken.

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-03

SA: ��ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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A productive night, with overall good weather conditions.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2016-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2018-1-MLT-012 P1 HRS (Spectral monitoring of supposed Be+WD binaries)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2018-1-MLT-005 P1 HRS (HRS observations of symbiotic stars)
2018-1-SCI-041 P1 RSS (Confirmation and redshift determination of galaxy clusters.)
2018-1-SCI-006 P2 RSS (Population study of stellar rotation rates in open clusters)
2017-1-MLT-010 P2 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars with long orbital periods)
2017-2-SCI-052 P2 RSS (Spectroscopic confirmation of high-redshift radio galaxy candidates)
2018-1-SCI-016 P4 HRS (x2) (Characterising the host star and protoplanetary disk environment in nearby young star systems)
2017-1-MLT-012 P4 HRS (Detailled study of CEMP stars identified in the RAVE survey)
2018-1-SCI-018 P4 HRS (A homogeneous sample of RR Lyrae)

Friday, August 3, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-02

SA: ��ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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A productive night, despite some moderate weather conditions most of the time.


Science data taken for:
2018-1-SCI-021 P1 RSS (Reverberation mapping of a low-z AGN)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2018-1-SCI-041 P1 RSS (Confirmation and redshift determination of galaxy clusters.)
2018-1-SCI-019 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for galaxies associated with strong Mg II absorbers)
2017-2-SCI-042 P2 RSS (x3) (The central molecular zones of southern galaxies)
2018-1-SCI-037 P3 RSS (Reverberation mapping of active galactic nuclei.)
2017-1-MLT-004 P4 RSS (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2017-1-MLT-006 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds cc. @astro_Liz)
2018-1-SCI-038 P4 RSS (Exploring the chemistry of faint blue stars)

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Night Log 2018-08-01

SA: ��ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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A reasonably productive night. Weather only permitted us to observe moslty low priority targets, ut we managed to observe a very high priority one.


Science data taken for:
2017-2-SCI-042 P1 RSS (The central molecular zones of southern galaxies)
2018-1-DDT-006 P1 RSS (Monitoring the LBV LHA 115-S18; @astro_Liz)
2016-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2017-1-MLT-004 P4 RSS (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2018-1-SCI-038 P4 RSS (x4) (Exploring the chemistry of faint blue stars)

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Night Log 2018-07-31

SA: Rajin
SO: Veronica
Others: Sifiso and Eric (Handover)

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Summary
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No observations taken tonight due to bad weather

No science data taken.