Monday, September 16, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-15

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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=> Unstable bright night with rising humidity and variable seeing. Were closed by humidity finally. Mostly low priority blocks were observed during this night.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2019-1-MLT-008 P4 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-1-SCI-040 P4 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (x4) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-1-MLT-010 P4 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

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Sunday, September 15, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-14

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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=> Unstable bright night with rising humidity, unstable seeing and some cirrus over the sky. Were closed by humidity finally. Only low priority blocks were observed.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-MLT-003 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2024-1-SCI-033 P3 HRS (x2) (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission)
2024-1-MLT-006 P3 HRS (x3) (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2023-2-MLT-005 P3 HRS (Monitoring the activity of Be/X-ray binaries in the southern hemisphere)
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (x6) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-1-SCI-004 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogueBuilding a new )
2023-1-SCI-040 P4 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2019-1-MLT-008 P4 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)

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Saturday, September 14, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-13

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others: Malcolm, Shamiel and Anthony by zoom at the evening to debug software

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Summary
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=> Unstable grey night with some thin clouds and variable seeing. Many low priority blocks were observed for this reason.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-SCI-033 P2 HRS (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission)
2023-1-SCI-040 P3 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2024-1-SCI-024 P3 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2024-1-MLT-006 P3 HRS (x2) (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2024-1-SCI-013 P3 RSS (Probing the quasar outflows.)
2019-1-MLT-008 P4 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (x9) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-1-MLT-010 P4 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

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Friday, September 13, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-12

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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=> Stable enough grey night with moderate to good seeing. Some cirrus over the sky. Many blocks were observed, but most of them are low priority.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-SCI-030 P2 RSS (x2) (Metallicity gradient of SN Ia host galaxy NGC 524.)
2024-1-SCI-002 P2 RSS (Deep spectroscopy of faint, stellar shells in nearby in NGC 2865 & PGC 6240)
2024-1-SCI-024 P3 RSS (x2) (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2023-1-SCI-040 P3 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (x8) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2023-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (x2) (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2024-1-MLT-010 P4 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

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Thursday, September 12, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-11

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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=> Unstable grey night with very moderate, bad and good seeing. Many blocks of different priorities were observed.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-1-SCI-025 P2 RSS (Probing the large scale gas flows in galaxies)
2024-1-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2022-2-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Follow-up of tight stellar quadruples)
2024-1-SCI-033 P3 HRS (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission)
2023-2-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Searching for New quasar Pairs )
2023-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (x6) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-1-MLT-010 P4 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)

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Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-10

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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A beautiful, clear night, but with unstable seeing. We were able to observe a wide variety of blocks throughout the night.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-MLT-009 P1 RSS (Optical Spectroscopy of nearby Galaxies)
2024-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Tracking Accretion Flows via BLR Emission in Changing-Look Active Galactic Nuclei)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-SCI-013 P2 RSS (Probing the quasar outflows.)
2024-1-MLT-006 P2 HRS (x2) (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2021-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-001 P4 HRS (Study of hot SB2 systems)
2024-1-ORP-001 P4 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2024-1-SCI-004 P4 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogueBuilding a new )
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (x4) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

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Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-09

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others: E10, Timmy and Eben

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Summary
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To night the seeing was not great and we lost part of the night due to high humidity.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-MLT-003 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2023-2-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Searching for New quasar Pairs )
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2024-1-SCI-013 P3 RSS (Probing the quasar outflows.)
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

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Monday, September 9, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-08

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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Lost the whole night due to bad weather.

No science data taken.

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Sunday, September 8, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-07

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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A beautiful dark, clear and stable night. we were able to observe a wide variety of blocks throughout the night.


Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2024-1-MLT-004 P0 RSS (Observations of white dwarf supernovae to be observed also with JWST.)
2024-1-MLT-006 P0 HRS (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2024-1-SCI-023 P1 RSS (Measuring the redshift of the objects in two strong gravitational lensing systems)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-MLT-009 P1 RSS (Optical Spectroscopy of nearby Galaxies)
2024-1-DDT-005 P1 RSS (Observing the galactic fountain in action in a high-redshift galaxy)
2024-1-SCI-002 P2 RSS (Deep spectroscopy of faint, stellar shells in nearby in NGC 2865 & PGC 6240)
2023-1-SCI-040 P2 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (x2) (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-1-SCI-042 P3 RSS (SALT Spectra of Transients)
2024-1-ORP-001 P3 RSS (Double white dwarf candidates)
2024-1-SCI-004 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogueBuilding a new )

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Saturday, September 7, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-06

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others:

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Summary
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The seeing was a little worse than average but quite stable. But we ticked off a bunch of P0, DDT, and mix priority blocks.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-MLT-004 P0 RSS (Observations of white dwarf supernovae to be observed also with JWST.)
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (Followup of Transients)
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-DDT-005 P1 RSS (Observing the galactic fountain in action in a high-redshift galaxy)
2024-1-MLT-006 P1 HRS (Monitor the spectral emission lines of these Be binaries.)
2024-1-SCI-003 P2 RSS (Longslit RSS study of faint, gas-rich dwarf galaxies)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-2-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Searching for New quasar Pairs )
2024-1-ORP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Double white dwarf candidates)
2022-2-MLT-002 P3 HRS (Follow-up of tight stellar quadruples)

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Friday, September 6, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-05

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others: Paul,Michael, Timmy and Wimpie

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Summary
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We observed several blocks, however technical difficulties where present tonight.

Science data taken for:
2023-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x3) (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2024-1-SCI-008 P1 HRS (beta Pic pulsation observation)
2024-1-SCI-003 P2 RSS (x2) (Longslit RSS study of faint, gas-rich dwarf galaxies)
2024-1-SCI-002 P2 RSS (Deep spectroscopy of faint, stellar shells in nearby in NGC 2865 & PGC 6240)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)

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Thursday, September 5, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-04

SA: Antoine
SO: Austun
Others: Lisa, Lee and Timmy for Mirror Alignment

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Summary
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Lost the whole night due to bad weather.

No science data taken.

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Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-03

SA: Lee
SO: Shamin
Others: Danièl (gains), Antoine & Austen (handover)

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Summary
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There was a lot of cloud tonight, but we observed several blocks after the thicker cloud cleared away.

Science data taken for:
2023-1-MLT-007 P2 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2024-1-SCI-030 P2 RSS (Metallicity gradient of SN Ia host galaxy NGC 524.)
2023-2-MLT-003 P2 RSS (Investigating the polarised nature of TeV-emitting blazars)
2023-1-SCI-040 P3 HRS (Searching for variable metal lines in polluted white dwarfs)
2024-1-SCI-033 P3 HRS (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission)
2023-2-LSP-001 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)
2024-1-SCI-004 P4 HRS (x2) (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogueBuilding a new )

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Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-02

SA: Lee
SO: Shamin
Others: Danièl (polarimetry cals)

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Summary
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We lost a lot of time to cloud tonight, though that cloud came with the silver lining of allowing us time to catch up on much needed calibrations. We managed to get in a handful of science blocks as well.

Science data taken for:
2024-1-SCI-033 P2 HRS (x2) (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission)
2024-1-MLT-010 P3 HRS (Stellar Characterisation of Ariel mission targets: derivation of N and O abundances)
2024-1-MLT-004 P3 RSS (Observations of white dwarf supernovae to be observed also with JWST.)
2024-1-SCI-004 P4 HRS (Defining a new chemically peculiar star catalogueBuilding a new )
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (x3) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

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Monday, September 2, 2024

Night Log 2024-09-01

SA: Lee
SO: Shamin
Others: Lisa (HRS), Lucia, UCT students

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Summary
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Another clear and stable night with good seeing. We had brief technical issues with SCAM and HRS, the latter of which forced us to use a little engineering time to finish an RV standard. Otherwise, a good night!

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2024-1-SCI-025 P2 RSS (Probing the large scale gas flows in galaxies)
2024-1-SCI-003 P2 RSS (Longslit RSS study of faint, gas-rich dwarf galaxies)
2019-1-MLT-008 P2 HRS (x2) (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2024-1-SCI-024 P2 RSS (Monitoring a special sample of quasars showing large continuum variations in their spectra.)
2024-1-SCI-030 P2 RSS (Metallicity gradient of SN Ia host galaxy NGC 524.)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (x2) (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2023-2-LSP-001 P4 RSS (x2) (Spectra of ultrashort period main sequence binary stars)

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Sunday, September 1, 2024

Night Log 2024-08-31

SA: Lee
SO: Shamin
Others: Malcolm, Wimpie (BMS)

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Summary
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Another trouble free night under dark and stable skies. We completed 12 blocks of mixed priority.

Science data taken for:
2021-2-LSP-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup of Transients)
2024-1-SCI-029 P1 RSS (Redshift measurements of BL Lacs for the CTA project)
2024-1-MLT-009 P1 RSS (Optical Spectroscopy of nearby Galaxies)
2019-1-MLT-008 P1 HRS (HRS monitoring of yellow symbiotic systems)
2024-1-SCI-031 P2 RSS (BCG evlolution in ACT clusters at intermediate/high redshifts)
2024-1-SCI-033 P2 HRS (detached eclipsing binaries for PLATO mission)
2024-1-MLT-001 P2 RSS (Study of the outer parts of lenticular galaxies.)
2024-1-MLT-003 P3 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far. @_sublunar_)
2024-1-SCI-013 P3 RSS (Probing the quasar outflows.)
2023-1-MLT-007 P3 RSS (SALT+Gaia survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs)
2024-1-SCI-007 P4 HRS (observing Ap stars)

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