Night Log 2020-01-30

SA: Solohery
SO: Thea
Others: Ros

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Full night with stable seeing. We did MOS observations with remote assistance from Ros.

Science data taken for:
2019-1-MLT-004 P0 HRS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2019-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Using MeerKAT and SALT to study the faint radio emission from quasars)
2019-1-MLT-010 P1 RSS (Measuring redshifts for galaxies in the MeerKAT LADUMA survey)
2019-2-SCI-016 P1 RSS (x2) (Probing the quasar outflows.)
2019-1-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Tracing the evolution of the most massive galaxies in the universe)
2019-2-SCI-006 P2 HRS (Investigating the multiplicity of WR stars)

Night Log 2020-01-29

SA: Solohery
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Night with average seeing and thin cloud.

Science data taken for:
2019-1-SCI-014 P1 RSS (Measuring galaxy kinematics for construction of the galaxy velocity function)
2019-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (x2) (Using MeerKAT and SALT to study the faint radio emission from quasars)
2019-1-MLT-009 P2 HRS (Monitoring the spectral variation of white dwarf with massive Be type companions)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2019-2-SCI-039 P2 RSS (Study of the resolved kinematics and star formation in nearby MIGHTEE HI galaxies)
2019-2-SCI-024 P3 HRS (Searching for evolved binary stars in the LMC)

Night Log 2020-01-28

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Solohery (handover)

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A full night with many high priority targets observed. We also completed all the pre-shutdown tests tonight.

Science data taken for:
2016-1-COM-009 P0 RSS (x5) (August-2016 shutdown engineering and re-commissioning tests)
2018-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2019-2-SCI-013 P1 RSS (Type Ia Supernovae)
2018-2-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Spectroscopic follow-up of strong gravitational lenses)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2019-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Using MeerKAT and SALT to study the faint radio emission from quasars)
2019-2-SCI-040 P1 RSS (Monitoring the spectropolarimetric behavior of blazars)
2019-2-SCI-015 P1 RSS (Searching for extended halos.)
2019-1-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Tracing the evolution of the most massive galaxies in the universe)

Night Log 2020-01-27

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Sunnyboy

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A full night of observing with many high priority blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2018-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2019-1-MLT-004 P0 HRS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2019-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Using MeerKAT and SALT to study the faint radio emission from quasars)
2019-2-SCI-039 P1 RSS (Study of the resolved kinematics and star formation in nearby MIGHTEE HI galaxies)
2019-2-SCI-013 P1 RSS (Type Ia Supernovae)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2018-2-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Study of unclassified extragalactic NuSTAR serendipitous sources)
2019-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (SALT monitoring of luminous blue variables.)

Night Log 2020-01-26

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


We managed to observe a number of high priority targets before the humidity forced us to close.

Science data taken for:
2019-1-MLT-004 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2019-2-SCI-044 P1 RSS (Redshift measurements of three Fermi-LAT BL Lac objects)
2019-1-MLT-003 P1 RSS (A SALT survey of chemically-peculiar hot subdwarfs.)
2019-1-SCI-014 P2 RSS (Measuring galaxy kinematics for construction of the galaxy velocity function)
2019-2-SCI-031 P2 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)
2019-2-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2019-2-SCI-004 P4 HRS (Variability of the unusual young and cool star UNSW-V760)

Night Log 2020-01-25

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Managed to get a few blocks observed before the humidity and clouds forced us to close.

Science data taken for:
2019-2-SCI-039 P1 RSS (Study of the resolved kinematics and star formation in nearby MIGHTEE HI galaxies)
2019-1-COM-003 P1 HRS (Tests of scattered light in RSS)
2019-2-SCI-013 P1 RSS (Type Ia Supernovae)
2019-2-SCI-040 P1 RSS (Monitoring the spectropolarimetric behavior of blazars)
2019-2-SCI-031 P3 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)

Night Log 2020-01-24

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clouds at the start of the night but we managed to get a few high priority targets observed as well as some more engineering test.

Science data taken for:
2016-1-COM-009 P0 RSS (August-2016 shutdown engineering and re-commissioning tests)
2019-2-SCI-003 P1 RSS (Star formation histories in dusty, green-valley galaxies)
2019-2-SCI-044 P1 RSS (Redshift measurements of three Fermi-LAT BL Lac objects)
2019-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (x3) (Using MeerKAT and SALT to study the faint radio emission from quasars)
2019-1-MLT-003 P2 RSS (A SALT survey of chemically-peculiar hot subdwarfs.)
2019-2-SCI-031 P4 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)
2019-2-SCI-004 P4 HRS (Variability of the unusual young and cool star UNSW-V760)

Night Log 2020-01-23

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Deneys

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Continued with the pre-shutdown engineering test and managed to observe only one science block before the humidity forced us to close.

Science data taken for:
2016-1-COM-009 P0 RSS (x15) (August-2016 shutdown engineering and re-commissioning tests)
2019-2-SCI-031 P4 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)

Night Log 2020-01-22

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Richard

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


No science data taken due to bad weather. Started on the closed dome engineering tests before the shutdown.

Science data taken for:
2016-1-COM-009 P0 RSS (x15) (August-2016 shutdown engineering and re-commissioning tests)

Night Log 2020-01-22

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Richard

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


No science data taken due to bad weather. Started on the closed dome engineering tests before the shutdown.

Science data taken for:
2016-1-COM-009 P0 RSS (x15) (August-2016 shutdown engineering and re-commissioning tests)

Night Log 2020-01-21

SA: Alexei
SO: Fred
Others: Rudi for handover

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> We were closed by humidity after two hours of observations with bad seeing and unstable weather. Only four low-priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2019-1-MLT-002 P4 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopic observations of central stars of mid-infrared nebulae)

Night Log 2020-01-20

SA: Alexei
SO: Fred
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> We obtained two blocks before were closed by humidity. The rest of the night was lost for the humidity and fog.

Science data taken for:
2019-2-SCI-006 P3 HRS (Investigating the multiplicity of WR stars)
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2019-1-MLT-002 P4 HRS (Spectroscopic observations of central stars of mid-infrared nebulae)

Night Log 2020-01-19

SA: Alexei
SO: Fred
Others: Mr. Heavy Clouds and Ms. High Humidity again

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> All night was lost due to weather

No science data taken.

Night Log 2020-01-18

SA: Alexei
SO: Fred
Others: Mr. Heavy Clouds and Ms. High Humidity

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Lost all night because weather

No science data taken.

Night Log 2020-01-17

SA: Alexei
SO: Fred
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> The total night was lost due to weather

Science data taken for:
2019-1-MLT-002 P4 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopic observations of central stars of mid-infrared nebulae)

Night Log 2020-01-16

SA: Alexei
SO: Fred
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Night with moderate seeing. Many high priority blocks were observed

Science data taken for:
2018-1-MLT-001 P0 HRS (HRS observations of XRB)
2019-2-SCI-046 P1 RSS (Using MeerKAT and SALT to study the faint radio emission from quasars)
2019-2-DDT-003 P1 HRS (x3) (RV Followup of TESS Planet Candidate)
2019-2-SCI-006 P2 HRS (Investigating the multiplicity of WR stars)
2019-1-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Tracing the evolution of the most massive galaxies in the universe)
2019-1-MLT-002 P4 HRS (x2) (Spectroscopic observations of central stars of mid-infrared nebulae)

Night Log 2020-01-15

SA: Alexei
SO: Fred
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


=> Another very warm night with bad seeing most of the night. We did mostly lower priority blocks

Science data taken for:
2019-2-DDT-002 P2 HRS (Confirming black hole candidates in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2019-2-SCI-049 P3 HRS (Following the time evolution of poluted white dwarfs.)
2019-2-SCI-007 P4 HRS (x2) (Chemically peculiar Am stars observed by TESS satellite)
2019-2-SCI-011 P4 HRS (Long term programme: searching for new chemically peculiar stars in the southern hemisphere)
2019-1-MLT-002 P4 HRS (x6) (Spectroscopic observations of central stars of mid-infrared nebulae)
2019-2-SCI-031 P4 HRS (x3) (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)

Night Log 2020-01-14

SA: Rosalind
SO: Fred
Others: Alexei for handover

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A very warm night with very bad seeing at times, particularly in the second half. We did mostly lower priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2018-2-MLT-005 P0 RSS (x5) (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2019-2-SCI-040 P1 RSS (Monitoring the spectropolarimetric behavior of blazars)
2019-2-SCI-030 P3 RSS (Finding concealed accreting supermassive black holes.)
2018-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (Spectral study of starforming rings in S0 galaxies)
2019-2-SCI-003 P3 RSS (Star formation histories in dusty, green-valley galaxies)
2019-2-SCI-021 P4 RSS (Studing nova shells)

Night Log 2020-01-13

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A productive night with RSS. We observed mostly lower priority targets due to the bright moon, and had moderate seeing.

Science data taken for:
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (x8) (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2019-2-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2018-1-SCI-037 P3 RSS (Reverberation mapping of active galactic nuclei.)
2019-2-SCI-030 P4 RSS (Finding concealed accreting supermassive black holes.)
2019-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (A SALT survey of chemically-peculiar hot subdwarfs.)
2018-2-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x2) (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)

Night Log 2020-01-12

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others: Eben, Thabelo for the HRS pumping and baking, the dormouse

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A smooth and productive clear night, with mostly lower priority targets observed due to the bright moon and only having RSS available.

Science data taken for:
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (x6) (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2019-2-MLT-004 P3 RSS (x5) (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2019-2-SCI-045 P4 RSS (Discovery of two examples of extreme supermassive black hole jet behaviour)
2019-1-MLT-003 P4 RSS (x4) (A SALT survey of chemically-peculiar hot subdwarfs.)
2018-2-MLT-003 P4 RSS (Looking at chromospheric emission in stars which host exoplanets)
2019-2-SCI-030 P4 RSS (Finding concealed accreting supermassive black holes.)

Night Log 2020-01-11

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others: Thabelo, Eben, a cute spectacled dormouse

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


An eventful night with a frustrating start. We had problems with the mirror alignment/SPS system, which cost a lot of clear, great-seeing time. Seeing was more variable the rest of the night, and we did a mix of observations. In the early morning, the HRS red temperature started rising, so we kept to RSS while it was worked on, and end the night with a few technical issues still outstanding.

Science data taken for:
2018-2-MLT-005 P1 RSS (x4) (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2019-1-MLT-003 P2 RSS (A SALT survey of chemically-peculiar hot subdwarfs.)
2019-2-DDT-002 P2 HRS (Confirming black hole candidates in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2019-2-SCI-006 P3 HRS (Investigating the multiplicity of WR stars)
2018-1-MLT-002 P3 RSS (Longterm observations of a Be XRB)
2019-2-SCI-011 P4 HRS (Long term programme: searching for new chemically peculiar stars in the southern hemisphere)

Night Log 2020-01-10

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A productive bright night with reasonable seeing, becoming excellent at the end of the night. We did the phased DDT RV observation and calibrations and a mix of other targets.

Science data taken for:
2019-2-DDT-003 P1 HRS (x3) (RV Followup of TESS Planet Candidate)
2018-2-LSP-001 P2 RSS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2019-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (x3) (SALT monitoring of luminous blue variables.)
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2019-2-SCI-002 P3 RSS (x2) (Measuring the properites of giant stars in close binaries that may eventually merge and explode.)

Night Log 2020-01-09

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


We observed a number of blocks of mixed priority before closing early due to clouds and high humidity.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-MLT-005 P2 HRS (HRS observations of symbiotic stars)
2019-2-SCI-031 P2 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)
2019-2-SCI-006 P3 HRS (x2) (Investigating the multiplicity of WR stars)
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2019-2-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2019-2-SCI-004 P4 HRS (Variability of the unusual young and cool star UNSW-V760)
2019-2-SCI-011 P4 HRS (Long term programme: searching for new chemically peculiar stars in the southern hemisphere)

Night Log 2020-01-08

SA: Rosalind
SO: Veronica
Others:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Entire night lost to weather. We took the weekly HRS calibration data.

No science data taken.

Night Log 2020-01-07

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Ros (handover), Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Night lost to weather.

Science data taken for:
2019-2-SCI-010 P3 HRS (Global parameters of massive stars)

Night Log 2020-01-06

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico, Jeremy + evening tour group

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Night lost to weather

No science data taken.

Night Log 2020-01-05

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Night lost to weather

No science data taken.

Night Log 2020-01-04

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Cloudy night with good seeing cut short by thick dark clouds after midnight. Closed-dome time was spent on important calibrations.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2019-2-DDT-004 P1 SCAM (Imaging a galaxy to make a poster for schools)
2018-1-MLT-005 P2 HRS (HRS observations of symbiotic stars)
2019-2-SCI-006 P3 HRS (Investigating the multiplicity of WR stars)
2019-2-SCI-011 P4 HRS (Long term programme: searching for new chemically peculiar stars in the southern hemisphere)

Night Log 2020-01-03

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Deneys, Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Mostly clear night was successfully devoted to high priority science.

Science data taken for:
2018-1-MLT-004 P1 SCAM (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2019-2-DDT-003 P1 HRS (x3) (RV Followup of TESS Planet Candidate)
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2019-2-SCI-004 P2 HRS (Variability of the unusual young and cool star UNSW-V760)
2019-2-SCI-007 P4 HRS (Chemically peculiar Am stars observed by TESS satellite)

Night Log 2020-01-02

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Deneys, Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear night with variable seeing.

Science data taken for:
2016-2-COM-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Polarimetry test proposal)
2019-2-SCI-015 P1 RSS (Searching for extended halos.)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2019-2-SCI-004 P2 HRS (Variability of the unusual young and cool star UNSW-V760)
2019-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (SALT monitoring of luminous blue variables.)
2019-2-SCI-006 P3 HRS (Investigating the multiplicity of WR stars)
2019-2-SCI-002 P3 RSS (Measuring the properites of giant stars in close binaries that may eventually merge and explode.)
2019-2-SCI-031 P3 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)
2018-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (Spectral study of starforming rings in S0 galaxies)
2019-2-SCI-007 P4 HRS (Chemically peculiar Am stars observed by TESS satellite)

Night Log 2020-01-01

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Deneys, Ruby, Enrico

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Clear night with terribly variable seeing.

Science data taken for:
2018-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Observing optical counterparts of transient objects)
2019-1-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Tracing the evolution of the most massive galaxies in the universe)
2019-2-SCI-004 P2 HRS (x2) (Variability of the unusual young and cool star UNSW-V760)
2018-2-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2019-2-SCI-006 P3 HRS (Investigating the multiplicity of WR stars)
2019-2-SCI-010 P3 HRS (Global parameters of massive stars)
2019-1-MLT-002 P4 HRS (Spectroscopic observations of central stars of mid-infrared nebulae)

Night Log 2019-12-31

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others: Stephanie

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------


A relatively good night with a mix of priority blocks observed. Not bad for the last night of the year.

Science data taken for:
2019-2-DDT-003 P1 HRS (x3) (RV Followup of TESS Planet Candidate)
2019-1-SCI-014 P2 RSS (Measuring galaxy kinematics for construction of the galaxy velocity function)
2019-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (SALT monitoring of luminous blue variables.)
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (x2) (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2019-2-MLT-004 P4 RSS (Monitoring the line emission in Southern Galactic Be/X-ray binaries)
2019-2-SCI-031 P4 HRS (Study of RV Tauri stars without a circumbinary disc.)