Sunday, December 31, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-30

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others:

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

Clouds, rain, high humidity and ridge cloud kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-29

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others:

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

Clouds, rain and high humidity kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, December 29, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-28

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others:

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

Thick clouds and high humidity for the first half of the night but in the end we managed to get a few blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-27

SA: Rudi
SO: Thea
Others:

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

Clouds kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-26

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others: Rudi for handover

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

=> The whole night was lost due to weather.

No science data taken.

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Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-25

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others:

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

=> Very unstable weather conditions with clouds, wind, humidity and bright moon. Tried to observe first half of the night and were closed by clouds and humidity after that. Only low priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2021-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (x4) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, December 25, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-24

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others:

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

=> Unstable night with moderate and bad seeing and rising humidity. Were closed as about two hours before twilight.

=> Santa was detected flying in the direction of Cape Town

Science data taken for:
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2020-2-MLT-007 P2 HRS (HRS observations of a high mass binary system.)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x3) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2021-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-23

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others:

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

=> Unstable night with bad seeing. Were closed by humidity finally. Mainly only low priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2021-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x9) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-22

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others: Brian and Paul

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

=> Stable grey night with moderate and good seeing. 14 blocks of different priorities were observed

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-SCI-004 P1 RSS (Study of the galaxies that produces strong MgII absorption in the spectra of the background quasars.)
2023-2-SCI-007 P2 RSS (Magnetic measurments of OB supergiants)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-2-SCI-002 P2 RSS (Probing the quasar outflows.)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x8) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2021-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Followup of Transients)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, December 22, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-21

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others:

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

=> Very unstable night with bad seeing above 3 arcsec. Mostly low priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (Age-dating UMa and determining new moving group members)
2021-2-MLT-004 P2 RSS (x2) (Spectropolarimetric Monitoring of eta Car)
2023-2-SCI-029 P3 RSS (Edge-on Disks: Dust Distributions and Candidate Selection for Disk Heating Program)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2020-1-MLT-008 P3 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-20

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others:

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

=> Stable grey night with moderate seeing and not technical issues. 12 block of different priorities were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (x2) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)
2023-1-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Study dwarf galaxies in voids)
2023-2-SCI-018 P2 HRS (Age-dating UMa and determining new moving group members)
2023-2-SCI-005 P2 HRS (Discovering new metal-poor stars)
2023-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2020-1-MLT-008 P3 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-19

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Shamin, Moses, Alexei, Tamara and Oleg, Lisa and Nicholas, Thea for handover

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

We had a smooth night, taking mostly mid priority observations in grey time with moderate seeing. We also did an NIR commissioning observation.

Science data taken for:
2022-1-COM-003 P0 None (x2) (Some targets for NIR first LIght)
2023-2-SCI-004 P1 RSS (Study of the galaxies that produces strong MgII absorption in the spectra of the background quasars.)
2023-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (x2) (Testing dust grain alignment relationship with the mineralogy in AGB star enevlopes.)
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (x2) (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-SCI-008 P3 RSS (Spectroscopic follow up of candidate self-lensing events)
2023-2-SCI-029 P3 RSS (Edge-on Disks: Dust Distributions and Candidate Selection for Disk Heating Program)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-18

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Shamin, Lisa and her nephew, Wimpie

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

We observed 9 high priority blocks. Most of the night went smoothly, but we had a cable wrap error and then hit high humidity shortly before the end of the night, preventing us from observing a calibration block for the asteroid observation we did earlier in the night.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Spectroscopy of candidate Lyman Contiuum leakers)
2023-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)
2023-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Asteroseismic study of the properties of some selected massive pulsators in eclipsing binaries.)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-SCI-019 P2 HRS (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, December 18, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-17

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Shamin, Wimpie

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

We completed 6 high priority blocks in clear conditions with moderate seeing. We lost quite a lot of time to technical issues with RSS.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (Age-dating UMa and determining new moving group members)
2018-1-MLT-004 P1 SCAM (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-SCI-022 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength of cataclysmic variables stars )
2023-2-SCI-019 P2 HRS (x2) (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-16

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Shamin

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

Tonight went smoothly, with almost no technical issues, clear skies and moderate seeing. We completed 9 mostly high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-004 P1 RSS (Study of the galaxies that produces strong MgII absorption in the spectra of the background quasars.)
2023-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-MLT-002 P1 RSS (Constraining galaxy cluster merger geometries and timescales)
2023-2-SCI-022 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength of cataclysmic variables stars )
2023-2-SCI-029 P3 RSS (Edge-on Disks: Dust Distributions and Candidate Selection for Disk Heating Program)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-15

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Moses for NIR earlier in the day, Wimpie

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

We completed the throughput test tonight but only managed 2 science blocks due to technical issues and high humidity.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (Age-dating UMa and determining new moving group members)
2019-1-COM-001 P1 SCAM (Burst-mirror throughput test )
2023-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Probing a disc galaxy assembly history)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, December 15, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-14

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Shamin

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

We observed for the first half of the night, before closing for high humidity. We completed 6 high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (x2) (Age-dating UMa and determining new moving group members)
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-13

SA: Rosalind
SO: Xola
Others: Shamin, Deon and Wimpie remotely

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

A good mostly clear night of stable seeing to start the week, with a couple of minor technical issues.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-004 P1 RSS (Study of the galaxies that produces strong MgII absorption in the spectra of the background quasars.)
2023-2-SCI-022 P1 RSS (x2) (Probing magnetic field strength of cataclysmic variables stars )
2023-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Probing a disc galaxy assembly history)
2020-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-2-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Identifying and Studying Galaxy Clusters)
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-12

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others: Thabelo and Shamin

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

The night was cut short by high humidity.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Probing a disc galaxy assembly history)
2023-2-SCI-022 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength of cataclysmic variables stars )
2023-1-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-11

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others:

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

A very productive night with stable seeing. We had some technical problems at the beginning of the night, but the standby managed to sort them out. Only high-priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2018-1-MLT-004 P1 SCAM (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2023-2-SCI-008 P1 RSS (Spectroscopic follow up of candidate self-lensing events)
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-2-SCI-019 P2 HRS (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)
2023-2-SCI-024 P2 RSS (x3) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-SCI-021 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of ultra-diffuse galaxies)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, December 11, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-10

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others:

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

A very productive night with stable seeing. Only high-priority blocks were observed before the humidity forced us to close.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength of cataclysmic variables stars )
2023-2-SCI-019 P1 HRS (x2) (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-09

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others:

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

Night lost to thick cloud and humidty.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-08

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others: Deon, Eben & Bryne

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

The night was cut short by high humidity.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-019 P0 HRS (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-029 P2 RSS (Edge-on Disks: Dust Distributions and Candidate Selection for Disk Heating Program)
2023-1-MLT-005 P4 HRS (Study of the proporties of chemically peculiar Am stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, December 8, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-07

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others: Rudi, Eben and Richard

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

We had mostly clear skies throughout the entire night, but the night was not good because of technical problems.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (x3) (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-SCI-019 P2 HRS (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)
2023-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Asteroseismic study of the properties of some selected massive pulsators in eclipsing binaries.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-06

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others: Rudi, Daniel H, LFC team

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

A very productive night with average seeing. Only high-priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-002 P1 RSS (Probing the quasar outflows.)
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-SCI-017 P2 RSS (Testing dust grain alignment relationship with the mineralogy in AGB star enevlopes.)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-2-SCI-021 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of ultra-diffuse galaxies)
2023-2-SCI-024 P2 RSS (x2) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-SCI-022 P2 RSS (x2) (Probing magnetic field strength of cataclysmic variables stars )

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-05

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Rudi, Malcolm, Xola, Antoine, Daniel H, Lisa, Deon, LFC team

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

We were dodging clouds during the first half of the night, and jumping between high and low priority blocks as the seeing varied wildly. The night was cut short by thick cloud and high humidity just before 1am.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (x3) (Age-dating UMa and determining new moving group members)
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-SCI-008 P2 RSS (Spectroscopic follow up of candidate self-lensing events)
2023-2-SCI-029 P3 RSS (x2) (Edge-on Disks: Dust Distributions and Candidate Selection for Disk Heating Program)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-04

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Malcolm, Lisa, Rudi, Daniel H, LFC team, Nico (for TimDimm)

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

RSS was offline tonight, so we were left with HRS and some poor seeing to start the night. Mercifully, the seeing improved significantly, allowing us to complete a few higher priority blocks in the queue - including a P0 for a new LMC transient!

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-SCI-019 P1 HRS (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)
2020-2-MLT-007 P2 HRS (HRS observations of a high mass binary system.)
2023-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Asteroseismic study of the properties of some selected massive pulsators in eclipsing binaries.)
2023-1-SCI-040 P3 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-MLT-005 P4 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, December 4, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-03

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Lisa, Rudi, Malcolm, Daniel H, LFC team, Richard (for RSS and Payload))

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

We observed 9 blocks tonight, including some short engineering observations. The night was dominated by technical issues that prevented us from taking full advantage of the good conditions.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-SCI-016 P1 RSS (Optical spectroscopy of the peculiar eruptive variable NGCA-V84)
2023-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Searching for New quasar Pairs )
2023-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Asteroseismic study of the properties of some selected massive pulsators in eclipsing binaries.)
2023-2-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-02

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Richard (for TPC), Timmy (for PDET), Malcolm

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

We had clear and stable conditions throughout the night, which allowed us to complete some high priority observations. Some problems with the RSS CCD cooling meant we were limited to lower priority blocks for the final 2 hours of the night.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-019 P0 HRS (x3) (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Asteroseismic study of the properties of some selected massive pulsators in eclipsing binaries.)
2023-2-SCI-012 P2 HRS (Studying the vertical temperature profile of protoplanetary disc)
2021-2-LSP-001 P3 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2022-2-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Follow-up of tight stellar quadruples)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Night Log 2023-12-01

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Rudi, Lisa & LFC team

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

Night lost to thick cloud.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, December 1, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-30

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Lisa, Rudi, Malcolm, Moses, Janus, Melanie, Shamiel & LFC team, E10 (for TCS & PCON), Ant (for PCON)

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

A beautifully clear, warm and stable night. It was also a busy night, starting off with several tests and commissioning observations. We had a few technical issues with the payload after we had settled into science observations, but still completed several blocks of mixed priority.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-016 P1 RSS (Optical spectroscopy of the peculiar eruptive variable NGCA-V84)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (x4) (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2022-2-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Follow-up of tight stellar quadruples)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-29

SA: Lee
SO: Veronica
Others: Lisa, Rudi, Malcolm, Ant (for RSS), Timmy (for PDET)

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

A very productive night with average seeing and some passing cloud. A few technical wobbles, but no time lost. We completed 22 blocks of mixed priority.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-SCI-025 P1 RSS (x2) (Near-UV and visible spectroscopy of the primitive asteroids)
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (x2) (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (x8) (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2021-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-1-MLT-005 P4 HRS (Study of the proporties of chemically peculiar Am stars)
2023-2-MLT-005 P4 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

The LFC Team, & SALTICAM, are Back!

Busy day up at SALT yesterday!  The laser frequency comb team (Richard & Shan from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, + Malcolm & Lisa from Cape Town) are back at the telescope for Phase II of the comb integration effort.


Wimpie & Etienne (E10) have been busy completing the electronics boxes for the comb that were being built up here.



With the necessary mods done to the comb housing that was made by the workshop at SAAO in Cape Town, we could check that the liquid cooling circuit doesn't leak before putting all the optics back in & then getting the cabling for the piezo's sorted out.


Meanwhile the Tech Ops team was getting the telescope ready for re-installing SALTICAM, which has been offline for the past 10 weeks.  The mechanicals got the big tracker access platform installed & then removed the drawbridge part of the normal access platform.


Having installed & charged all the new cryo-cooler pipes, checked the vacuum & tested all the SALTICAM mechanisms, it was time to remove the backup camera (BCAM) from the payload.  Here it is back where we like it - down on the ground, in the HRS electronics room!


With BCAM out of the way we could see that the SALTICAM fold mirror, & one of the mirrors in the slit-view Offner relay, badly needed a clean! 


Fortunately it wasn't anything too nasty so it cleaned up quickly.  The view below shows the pupil mask & moving baffle on the top of the atmospheric dispersion compensator (ADC), as seem in the SALTICAM fold mirror.


With the SALTICAM fold looking like a mirror again & the cleaner out the way, the SALTICAM bay in the payload was ready for the return of our long-lost acquisition camera.


Space is always at a premium up there but Eben, Thabelo, Nico, Nicolaas & Johan all managed to get where they needed to be.


The daunting process of lifting the roughly 50 kg beast up & into the bay was made to look relatively easy...  But it's still not something we'd choose to do for fun!


Everything was connected up & we held our breath as the cooling started.  Happily the system cooled quickly & without issue, so SALTICAM was ready for action by the start of the observing night.


Though SALTICAM is getting long in the tooth & it's far from ideal, the observers were Very happy to have it back at last, with its much larger field of view & better sensitivity making acquisitions far easier.

Night Log 2023-11-28

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: LFC team

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

Almost a full night of observing. We had some clouds for the first half of the night along with some bad seeing. The second half of the night cleared up nicely, but the humidity forced us to close with ~1.5 hours to go. Mostly low priority targets observed.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-2-SCI-014 P4 RSS (Building a sample of blazar candidates)
2023-2-SCI-010 P4 RSS (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-27

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Lisa + LFC team

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

The bright moon and some bad seeing forced us to observe low priority targets for the first half of the night. During the second half of the night, the seeing settled down and we could do some higher priority targets.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (x6) (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, November 27, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-26

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Anthony, E10

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

Another full night of observations. The full moon forced us to observe many lower priority blocks at the start and end of the night. We did get some higher priority targets in the middle of the night.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (x6) (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (x5) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2020-2-MLT-007 P4 HRS (HRS observations of a high mass binary system.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-25

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Minimal downtime and good stable conditions allowed us to observe a large number of high priority targets.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (x10) (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2020-1-MLT-008 P3 RSS (x2) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-24

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: ISYA students, Solohery, Danièl, Moses, Antoine, Daniel

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

We had some thin clouds for almost the entire night, but overall a relatively good night. With RSS back in action we managed to get a large number of high priority targets observed.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (x2) (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (x5) (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (x3) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, November 24, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-23

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Moses, Danièl, ISYA students, Richard

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

Some thin clouds throughout most of the night and some technical problems with RSS forced us to use HRS for most of the night. In the end we observed mostly lower priority targets.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (x4) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-22

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Thabelo, Deon, Anthony, ISYA students and lecturers

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

A relatively stable night with moderate seeing. Some technical problems with RSS forced us to use HRS for most of the night. Good number of high priority targets observed.

Science data taken for:
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-SCI-019 P1 HRS (x2) (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Asteroseismic study of the properties of some selected massive pulsators in eclipsing binaries.)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-21

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others:

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

We have problems tonight with PG0700. But we managed to observe seven blocks of high priority.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-019 P0 HRS (x2) (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)
2020-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-SCI-024 P2 RSS (x3) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-20

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others: Kyle & Andy

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

We lost the whole night due to bad weather.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, November 20, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-19

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others: Andy, Kyle, Lisa, Marsha & Vasili

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

We had bad night with clouds most of the night.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-024 P2 RSS (x3) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Study of hot SB2 systems)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-18

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others:

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

Only high-priority blocks were observed, with a lot of Tech problems. 

Science data taken for:
2022-1-COM-003 P0 None (Some targets for NIR first LIght)
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (x9) (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2023-2-SCI-024 P2 RSS (x3) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-17

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others: Andy, Deon B, Marsha, Melanie, Mike, Moses (online), Gideon, Kyle and Thabelo for the payload error

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

We had stable seeing tonight. We also had problems (4 times), which did not help us to do NIR COM.

Science data taken for:
2022-1-COM-003 P0 HRS (Some targets for NIR first LIght)
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 HRS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2023-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Asteroseismic study of the properties of some selected massive pulsators in eclipsing binaries.)
2023-2-SCI-005 P2 HRS (Discovering new metal-poor stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, November 17, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-16

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others: Moses (online), Marsha, Melanie,Gideon, Kyle, Andrew, Mike, Paul and SALT Board member

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

We only observe 3 blocks before the clouds force us to close.

Science data taken for:
2022-1-COM-003 P0 HRS (Some targets for NIR first LIght)
2023-2-SCI-019 P2 HRS (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Study of hot SB2 systems)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-15

SA: Antoine
SO: Xola
Others: Kyle and Andrew

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

Cloud kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-14

SA: Antoine
SO: Thea
Others: Xola, Marsha, Melanie,Gideon, Kyle, Andrew, Mike and Thobekile

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

Dark stable night with good seeing. High priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-019 P0 HRS (x5) (Monitor the spectral lines of these Be binaries.)
2023-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Asteroseismic study of the properties of some selected massive pulsators in eclipsing binaries.)
2020-2-MLT-007 P2 HRS (HRS observations of a high mass binary system.)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x3) (Study of hot SB2 systems)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-13

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others:

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

=> Unstable night with bad seeing and rising humidity. Were closed by it after midnight.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-005 P2 HRS (Discovering new metal-poor stars)
2019-1-MLT-008 P3 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-MLT-001 P3 HRS (x3) (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (x4) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, November 13, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-12

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others:

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

=> One more dark stable night with moderate to good seeing. Only high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-SCI-022 P1 RSS (x4) (Probing magnetic field strength of cataclysmic variables stars )
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-1-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Study dwarf galaxies in voids)
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-021 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of ultra-diffuse galaxies)
2023-2-MLT-001 P3 RSS (Study of hot SB2 systems)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-11

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others:

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

=> Stable dark night with good seeing. Only high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (x3) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength of cataclysmic variables stars )
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2023-2-SCI-021 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of ultra-diffuse galaxies)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (x2) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-1-MLT-006 P2 RSS (x2) (Study dwarf galaxies in voids)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-10

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others: Students for SO training

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

=> Nice stable night with good seeing. Only high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-022 P1 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength of cataclysmic variables stars )
2023-2-SCI-029 P2 RSS (Edge-on Disks: Dust Distributions and Candidate Selection for Disk Heating Program)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (x3) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-1-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Study dwarf galaxies in voids)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-024 P2 RSS (x2) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, November 10, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-09

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others: Students for SO training

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

=> Nice stable night with good and moderate seeing. Only high priority targets were observed

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (x3) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x3) (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2023-2-SCI-012 P2 HRS (Studying the vertical temperature profile of protoplanetary disc)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (x2) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Asteroseismic study of the properties of some selected massive pulsators in eclipsing binaries.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-08

SA: Alexei
SO: Thea
Others:

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

=> We tried to do the best even large technical issues. Many high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2023-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (x3) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x3) (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2023-2-SCI-003 P2 HRS (Asteroseismic study of the properties of some selected massive pulsators in eclipsing binaries.)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)
2023-1-MLT-005 P4 HRS (Study of the proporties of chemically peculiar Am stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-07

SA: Solohery
SO: Thea
Others: Thobekile, Gideon, Leo Lee, Alexei and Tamara

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

We had a full night with clear skies and good seeing, allowing us to observe many blocks of high priority.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (x5) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-SCI-021 P2 RSS (Spectroscopy of ultra-diffuse galaxies)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (x3) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-SCI-005 P2 HRS (Discovering new metal-poor stars)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-06

SA: Solohery
SO: Thea
Others:

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

We had clear skies and good seeing conditions during the first few hours of tonight. We managed to observe six high-priority blocks. We were then closed due to high humidity for the rest of the night.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (x2) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, November 6, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-05

SA: Solohery
SO: Thea
Others: Thabelo, Johan, Ant

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

We had mostly clear skies throughout the entire night, coupled with good seeing conditions. We managed to observe twelve high-priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Searching for New quasar Pairs )
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-SCI-029 P1 RSS (Edge-on Disks: Dust Distributions and Candidate Selection for Disk Heating Program)
2023-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (x3) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (x2) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, November 5, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-04

SA: Solohery
SO: undefined
Others:

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

We had a full night with moderate seeing conditions. We observed sixteen high-priority blocks observed.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-2-SCI-029 P1 RSS (Edge-on Disks: Dust Distributions and Candidate Selection for Disk Heating Program)
2023-1-MLT-007 P1 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (x4) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (x4) (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2021-2-LSP-001 P2 HRS (Followup of Transients)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-03

SA: Solohery
SO: Thea
Others:

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

The night began with thick clouds but later cleared up, with decent seeing conditions. We had to pause due to humidity but were able to observe 10 high-priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (x4) (Identifying targets for follow-up BH dynamical mass measurements)
2023-2-SCI-010 P1 RSS (Ages of Stars in Galactic Wrinkles)
2020-1-MLT-008 P1 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, November 3, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-02

SA: Solohery
SO: Thea
Others: Thabelo, Lisa

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

Entire night lost to weather.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Night Log 2023-11-01

SA: Solohery
SO: Thea
Others: Danièl, Thabelo, E10, Richard, Encarni

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

We had decent seeing conditions and observed 7 blocks, despite a few technical issues and thick clouds.


Science data taken for:
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (x4) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-MLT-001 P2 HRS (x2) (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2023-2-SCI-006 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogue)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-31

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Janus, Malcolm, Sunnyboy and Shamiel (guider pre-positioning), Thabelo, Wimpie, Ant (NIR)

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

Technical gremlins were running riot again tonight. Despite this, we managed to complete 10 blocks of mixed priorities.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-1-SCI-027 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength of cataclysmic variables stars )
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2020-1-MLT-008 P3 RSS (x2) (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2018-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2023-1-SCI-019 P4 HRS (x2) (Cosmic dance of massive triples)
2023-1-MLT-007 P4 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-30

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Wimpie

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

Another night of observations was done. The RSS detector temperature is within normal limits again. The guide probes decided to give us issues tonight.

Science data taken for:
2018-2-MLT-005 P1 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2023-1-SCI-013 P1 HRS (Spectrosocpic classification of the microlensing events candidates alerted by Gaia mission)
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (x4) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-SCI-019 P3 HRS (x4) (Cosmic dance of massive triples)
2023-1-SCI-006 P4 HRS (Oscillating wildly - characterising the nature of unusually pulsating stars)
2023-2-SCI-014 P4 RSS (x2) (Building a sample of blazar candidates)
2023-1-MLT-005 P4 HRS (Study of proporties of chemically peculiar Am stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, October 30, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-29

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Bad weather kept us closed for the night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-28

SA: undefined
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

We had time to do 3 blocks before the humidity forced us closed for the rest of the night.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-MLT-005 P4 HRS (Study of proporties of chemically peculiar Am stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-27

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Lost the whole night to thick clouds and high humidity.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, October 27, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-26

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others: Frog

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

Another full night of observing, with few technical issues.
We had a surprise frog visitor in the control room tonight.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2018-2-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2023-1-SCI-008 P2 HRS (Observations of Ap stars @dlhwp)
2021-2-MLT-006 P3 HRS (Accurate parameters of stars in Tight Triple Systems)
2021-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-1-SCI-019 P3 HRS (x6) (Cosmic dance of massive triples)
2023-1-MLT-005 P4 HRS (x3) (Study of proporties of chemically peculiar Am stars)
2023-1-SCI-006 P4 HRS (Oscillating wildly - characterising the nature of unusually pulsating stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-25

SA: Danièl
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

We had a full night of observing and mostly a trouble-free evening.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2021-2-MLT-005 P2 HRS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-1-SCI-008 P3 HRS (Observations of Ap stars @dlhwp)
2021-2-MLT-006 P4 HRS (x2) (Accurate parameters of stars in Tight Triple Systems)
2023-1-SCI-019 P4 HRS (x3) (Cosmic dance of massive triples)
2023-1-SCI-005 P4 HRS (x2) (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2023-1-SCI-006 P4 HRS (Oscillating wildly - characterising the nature of unusually pulsating stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-24

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: Danièl, Wimpie, Pran, Moses, Shamin

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

The weather conditions were decent tonight and we managed to observe many blocks of mixed priority.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-SCI-025 P1 RSS (x2) (Building a spectroscopic survey of 2 galaxy clusters, boosting MeerKAT legacy value)
2023-1-MLT-003 P1 HRS (Observations of a pos-AGB star which has completely changed its apparence over the last decades. )
2018-2-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2023-1-SCI-012 P3 RSS (Probing the quasar outflows.)
2023-1-SCI-023 P3 HRS (Spectra of RR Lyrae stars which will be used to determine the composition of the stars. )
2020-1-MLT-008 P3 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-1-SCI-017 P3 RSS (x2) (Revealing the nature of radio galaxies)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2021-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-23

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: Wimpie, Timmy

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

We managed to observe a few very high priority blocks tonight despite some interruption by the weather and some technical problems.

Science data taken for:
2022-2-ORP-005 P0 HRS (Am I hot enough? - The onset of iron absorption in atmospheres of ultra-hot Jupiters)
2023-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2020-1-MLT-008 P3 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, October 23, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-22

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

We only managed to observe a few blocks in between high humidity and thick cloud throughout the night.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-SCI-040 P1 HRS (Follow up spectroscopy of the first candidate for variable metal lines in a polluted white dwarf)
2023-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS (x2) ( Measuring total galaxy mass for disk-heating sample of edge-on galaxies)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-21

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Lost the whole night due to bad weather. RSS cryostat maintenance started.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-20

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: Wimpie (remotely for RSS CCD Temp and NIR coms error)

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

We were only able to comple a couple of blocks before the thick clouds came over. We remain closed for the rest of the night due to thick clouds and high humidity.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-1-MLT-005 P4 HRS (Study of proporties of chemically peculiar Am stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, October 20, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-19

SA: Moses
SO: Veronica
Others: Wimpie, Johan

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

We had good seeing and clear skies tonight and managed to observe many blocks of mixed priority despite a few technical problems.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-SCI-030 P1 RSS (Looking for orbital motion in binaries)
2023-1-SCI-024 P1 RSS (Identifying and Studying Galaxy Clusters)
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS (x2) ( Measuring total galaxy mass for disk-heating sample of edge-on galaxies)
2023-1-SCI-004 P2 RSS (Planetary Nebulae as chemodynamic tracers of the dwarf galaxy NGC 6822)
2023-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-1-SCI-019 P3 HRS (Cosmic dance of massive triples)
2023-1-MLT-005 P4 HRS (Study of proporties of chemically peculiar Am stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-17

SA: Lee
SO: Thea
Others: Moses, Veronica (handover), Ant (PCON), Eben (hexapod), Paul, Wimpie, Encarni, Petri, Lisa, Brian C & SALT review panel

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

We lost a couple more hours to technical issues tonight, but the night went very smoothly after they were sorted. We had some nice clear skies with good seeing, making the most of the dark time by completing 8 high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2023-1-SCI-036 P1 RSS (Studying a Variety of ACT sources with SALT)
2021-2-MLT-005 P2 HRS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2022-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Tracing the evolution of the most massive galaxies in the universe)
2023-1-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Study dwarf galaxies in voids)
2023-1-SCI-007 P3 HRS (Discovering new metal-poor stars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-16

SA: Lee
SO: Thea
Others: E10 (for TPC, BCAM & PCON), Janus (for BCAM)

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

We had significant technical issues tonight across multiple systems, losing just over 2 hours in total. We lost another 2 hours to humidity at the end of the night, leaving around 4 hours of science time in which we completed half a dozen high priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-SCI-039 P0 RSS (Extreme AGN Flare Followup)
2023-1-SCI-014 P1 RSS (Study of the galaxies that produces strong MgII absorption in the spectra of the background quasars.)
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)
2023-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS (x2) ( Measuring total galaxy mass for disk-heating sample of edge-on galaxies)
2021-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, October 16, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-15

SA: Lee
SO: Thea
Others: Etienne & Ant (for PCON), Eben (for BCAM check)

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

The weather was good tonight and we managed to observe a number of blocks of mixed priority. An RSS technical issue forced us to observe some lower priority blocks with HRS whilst it was being fixed.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Probing a disc galaxy assembly history)
2023-1-SCI-014 P2 RSS (Study of the galaxies that produces strong MgII absorption in the spectra of the background quasars.)
2023-1-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Study dwarf galaxies in voids)
2023-1-SCI-007 P3 HRS (x2) (Discovering new metal-poor stars)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-1-SCI-019 P4 HRS (Cosmic dance of massive triples)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-14

SA: Lee
SO: Thea
Others: Eben (for dome shutter)

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

The weather gods saw fit to give us a short window between thick cloud and high humidity, which perfectly aligned with a supernova P0 in the queue! We just squeezed it in. It was the only block we managed tonight. Hopefully it proves to be an interesting observation!

Science data taken for:
2023-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-13

SA: Lee
SO: Thea
Others: Eben, Johan, Timmy (for dome), Sunnyboy (GPP)

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

We observed 4 science blocks tonight in mostly poor seeing conditions. We used some poor seeing time to complete some engineering observations for the HS pipeline, and an HRS RV standard. We were closed just after midnight by the humidity.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-SCI-040 P1 HRS (Follow up spectroscopy of the first candidate for variable metal lines in a polluted white dwarf)
2023-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS ( Measuring total galaxy mass for disk-heating sample of edge-on galaxies)
2021-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, October 13, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-12

SA: Lee
SO: Thea
Others: Waanie (for qcpcnew), E10 (for BCAM), David, Anke, Daniel

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

We only managed one block at the start of the night, before humidity closed us for the remainder.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-MLT-006 P2 RSS (Study dwarf galaxies in voids)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-11

SA: Lee
SO: Thea
Others:

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

Night lost to thick cloud.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-10

SA: Antoine
SO: Thea
Others: Lee, Anka, Daniel, Ros and David

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

A full night of observing. We had some thin clouds and bad seeing during the night that forced us to observe some lower-priority targets, but the clouds did not stay for long. We managed to observe some high-priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Probing a disc galaxy assembly history)
2022-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Tracing the evolution of the most massive galaxies in the universe)
2023-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS (x3) ( Measuring total galaxy mass for disk-heating sample of edge-on galaxies)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-1-SCI-027 P2 RSS (Probing magnetic field strength of cataclysmic variables stars )
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (x2) (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-09

SA: Antoine
SO: Thea
Others:

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

Clouds and high humidity kept us closed most of the night.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (x2) (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-1-SCI-005 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, October 9, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-08

SA: Antoine
SO: Thea
Others: Richard

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

Clouds and high humidity kept us closed most of the night.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-SCI-019 P3 HRS (Cosmic dance of massive triples)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, October 8, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-07

SA: Antoine
SO: Thea
Others: Richard

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

Clouds and high humidity kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, October 7, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-06

SA: Antoine
SO: Thea
Others: Janus, Malcolm, Melanie and Sunnyboy

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

We managed to observe a few blocks before the weather became bad.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-SCI-040 P1 HRS (Follow up spectroscopy of the first candidate for variable metal lines in a polluted white dwarf)
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, October 6, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-05

SA: Antoine
SO: Thea
Others:

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

The night was not good, with bad seeing and the humidity forcing us to close.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-SCI-018 P4 RSS (x3) (Building a sample of blazar candidates)
2023-1-SCI-019 P4 HRS (Cosmic dance of massive triples)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-04

SA: Antoine
SO: Thea
Others: Timmy and Richard

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

We managed to observe a number of blocks, with some tech spoiling the observing. The whole night, we have thin clouds, and at the end, we get thick clouds.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (x2) (Spectropolarimetric study of nearby galaxies.)
2023-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS (x8) ( Measuring total galaxy mass for disk-heating sample of edge-on galaxies)
2023-1-SCI-008 P3 HRS (Observations of Ap stars @dlhwp)
2023-1-SCI-019 P3 HRS (Cosmic dance of massive triples)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-03

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Antoine, Anthony, Moses, Janus, Encarni, Deon

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

Managed to observe a number of high priority blocks with some tech and weather downtime to spoil the observing.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-1-SCI-014 P2 RSS (Study of the galaxies that produces strong MgII absorption in the spectra of the background quasars.)
2023-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (x4) (Spectropolarimetric study of nearby galaxies.)
2023-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS (x4) ( Measuring total galaxy mass for disk-heating sample of edge-on galaxies)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-02

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Thabelo, Anthony, Sunnyboy, Danièl, Ken

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

Managed to get some higher priority blocks done tonight through some technical issues as well as some engineering tests that we needed to do.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-COM-002 P1 RSS (x2) (Observing the Moon for polarimetry calibrations)
2020-1-MLT-008 P2 RSS (Obtaining redshifts for G4Jy sources - the brightest radio galaxies in the southern sky)
2023-1-SCI-028 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectropolarimetric study of nearby galaxies.)
2023-1-SCI-005 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, October 2, 2023

Night Log 2023-10-01

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Deon

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

The night started off with some bad and variable seeing, but the wind changed direction and the seeing settled down. We observed mostly low priority blocks due to the bright moon.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2018-2-MLT-005 P2 RSS (Probing the winds from massive binary star supernova progenitors)
2023-1-SCI-008 P3 HRS (Observations of Ap stars @dlhwp)
2021-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (x4) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-1-SCI-023 P3 HRS (x2) (Spectra of RR Lyrae stars which will be used to determine the composition of the stars. )
2023-1-SCI-019 P3 HRS (x2) (Cosmic dance of massive triples)
2021-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (x2) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-1-SCI-005 P4 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-30

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

Clouds and high humidity kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-29

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Deon

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

Clouds and wind kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, September 29, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-28

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Deon, Anthony, Moses

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

A fairly stable night with relatively good seeing. The bright moon forced us to observe lower priority targets though and we had some clouds at the end of the night that cut the night short.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2021-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (x4) (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-1-SCI-023 P3 HRS (Spectra of RR Lyrae stars which will be used to determine the composition of the stars. )
2023-1-SCI-005 P3 HRS (x2) (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-27

SA: Rudi
SO: Veronica
Others: Deon, Bryne, Timmy, Hitesh

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

We had some technical issues at the start of the night and some high humidity in the middle. Mostly observed lower priority targets due to the bright moon.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (x2) (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2021-2-MLT-005 P3 RSS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-1-SCI-008 P3 HRS (x2) (Observations of Ap stars @dlhwp)
2023-1-SCI-019 P3 HRS (Cosmic dance of massive triples)
2021-2-MLT-006 P3 HRS (x2) (Accurate parameters of stars in Tight Triple Systems)
2023-1-SCI-005 P4 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-26

SA: Alexei
SO: Xola
Others:

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

=> Entire night lost to weather
=> Weekly HRS calibration were done

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-25

SA: Alexei
SO: Xola
Others:

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

=> Entire night lost to weather

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, September 25, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-24

SA: Alexei
SO: Xola
Others:

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

=> Entire night lost to weather

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-23

SA: Alexei
SO: Xola
Others:

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

=> No any science data were taken for the reason of bad weather

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-22

SA: Alexei
SO: Xola
Others:

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

=> Full clear night with good seeing. 14 blocks were observed and most of them are high priority.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (x3) (Probing a disc galaxy assembly history)
2023-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS (x3) ( Measuring total galaxy mass for disk-heating sample of edge-on galaxies)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (x3) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-1-SCI-040 P2 HRS (Follow up spectroscopy of the first candidate for variable metal lines in a polluted white dwarf)
2023-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (x3) (Spectropolarimetric study of nearby galaxies.)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, September 22, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-21

SA: Alexei
SO: Xola
Others:

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

=> Clear night with good seeing and rising humidity. We were by closed humidity soon after midnight. Only high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2023-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Probing a disc galaxy assembly history)
2023-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (x3) (Spectropolarimetric study of nearby galaxies.)
2023-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS (x2) ( Measuring total galaxy mass for disk-heating sample of edge-on galaxies)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-20

SA: Alexei
SO: Xola
Others:

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

=> Stable night with good seeing. Only RSS was available tonight. Mostly high priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (x2) (Probing a disc galaxy assembly history)
2023-1-SCI-037 P1 RSS (x2) (Studies of ionizing radiation from massive stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud)
2023-1-SCI-028 P2 RSS (x2) (Spectropolarimetric study of nearby galaxies.)
2023-1-SCI-034 P2 RSS ( Measuring total galaxy mass for disk-heating sample of edge-on galaxies)
2023-1-SCI-012 P3 RSS (Probing the quasar outflows.)
2023-1-SCI-016 P3 RSS (Testing dust grain alignment relationship with the mineralogy in AGB star enevlopes.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-19

SA: Solohery
SO: Veronica
Others: Alexei for handover, Wannie for qcpcnew

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

The weather kept us closed all night.

No science data taken.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Night Log 2023-09-18

SA: Solohery
SO: Veronica
Others:

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

We had a full night with a clear sky and good seeing. We managed to observe three P0s along with several blocks of higher priority.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-MLT-008 P0 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 HRS (Followup of Transients)
2023-1-SCI-014 P1 RSS (Study of the galaxies that produces strong MgII absorption in the spectra of the background quasars.)
2023-1-COM-001 P1 HRS (HS pipeline observations @dlhwp)
2021-2-LSP-001 P1 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2023-1-MLT-004 P1 RSS (x2) (Probing a disc galaxy assembly history)
2023-1-SCI-029 P1 RSS (Spectroscopy of ultra-diffuse galaxies)
2022-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Tracing the evolution of the most massive galaxies in the universe)
2023-1-SCI-019 P3 HRS (Cosmic dance of massive triples)

------------------------------------------------------------------------