Monday, November 30, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-29

SA: Paul
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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- Another productive night at the telescope. We did have some more technical difficulties tonight, no show stoppers however.

- Obtained data for the following programs:

2015-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2015-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (x4) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-053 P3 RSS (Probing why hot stars can pulsate in the low-metal environment of the LMC.)
2015-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-28

SA: Paul
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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- Had a productive night with some minor technical issues that cost us some time. The seeing was good, at least < 2'', and it was mostly clear.

- Obtained data for the following programs:

2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (x3) (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-036 P2 RSS (Spectrophotometry of Magellanic symbiotic stars)
2015-2-SCI-035 P3 RSS (Identifying new ultracompact binary star systems through their spectral characteristics)
2015-2-SCI-022 P3 RSS (Spectroscopy of early-type barred disk galaxies to investigate an ansae phenomena.)
2015-2-SCI-007 P3 RSS (Spectroscopic classification of pulsating stars. )

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-27

SA: Paul
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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- Had a productive evening with minor technical issues. The seeing was mediocre to poor for most the night and the conditions were not photometric.

- Obtained data for the following programs:

2015-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-2-SCI-036 P2 RSS (x2) (Spectrophotometry of Magellanic symbiotic stars)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-044 P3 HRS (Confirm the first detection of pulsations in a K dwarf star )
2015-2-SCI-049 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds)

Friday, November 27, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-26

SA: Paul
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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- We were closed the whole night due to high humidity.
- No data taken.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-25

SA: Paul
SO: Thea
Others: Chris, Ockert, Johnathan at the start of the night.

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Summary
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- Had a productive night with no technical issues. Seeing was mediocre, around 2.5'' for most of the night.
- Did long science blocks so the list of programs observed is pretty short:

2015-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-036 P2 RSS (x4) (Spectrophotometry of Magellanic symbiotic stars)

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-24

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others: Paul, James, Thea

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Summary
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A productive night tonight with good weather and good conditions.
We could get data for the following programs:
2015-2-SCI-036 P2 RSS (x3) (Spectrophotometry of Magellanic symbiotic stars)
2015-2-SCI-037 P3 RSS (Spectrum of ultraluminous X-ray source nebula)

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-23

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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A rather difficult night. We had some problems with software at the beginning of the night, and then some technical problem with the tracker.

But we could observe for the following programs:
2015-1-MLT-002 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (x2) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-036 P2 RSS (Spectrophotometry of Magellanic symbiotic stars)

Monday, November 23, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-22

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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A productive night, with good conditions.
We have observed a high priority program at the beginning of the night, then switched to HRS for targets not bothered by the moon. We finished by a first for me : LR Fabry-Perot observations, with a dither!

We have obtained data for the following programs:
2015-1-MLT-002 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (x4) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Determining the distances to massive dusty stars that may be emitting microwave lasers)
2015-2-SCI-014 P2 RSS (Mapping the velocity structure of hydrogen in N113)
2015-2-SCI-009 P3 HRS (Searching for circumbinary planets)

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-21

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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The night started bad with clouds, then high humidity for most of the time.
But humidity dropped for the last hour of the night, so we could get data for :
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-007 P2 RSS (Spectroscopic classification of pulsating stars. )

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-20

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Weather prevented us from opening at all. First it was the high winds, then, clouds, and then humidity.

The only data we obtained are calibrations for HRS.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-19

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Despite weather conditions not being ideal, it was a productive night.
We could observe the following programs:

2015-2-SCI-061 P0 RSS (SALT follow-up of type Ia supernovae to study their spectral properties at targeted redshifts)
2015-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-060 P1 RSS (Study of OVI emissions as a function of optical brightness state in two SSS.)
2015-2-SCI-033 P1 SCAM (Observations of Dwarf Novae in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (x2) (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)
2015-2-SCI-049 P4 RSS (x2) (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds)

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-18

SA: �ric
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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A beautiful night, but the seeing was not that great.
We could get data for science programs, but also do some important tests that will be used to monitor the performances of the telescope.

We have observed data for the following programs:
2015-2-SCI-036 P1 RSS (x2) (Spectrophotometry of Magellanic symbiotic stars)
2015-2-SCI-030 P1 RSS (x2) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2015-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Determining the distances to massive dusty stars that may be emitting microwave lasers)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-17

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Telescope out of operation. RSS pump down has started, as agreed between Astro Ops and Tech Ops.

The forecast for the night was for high humidity and it is indeed a night we would have lost due to humidity anyway.

No data taken.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-16

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico

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Summary
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Clear night with good seeing. Observed both P0 ToOs that were added after 7:30pm. A productive night all around.

Data taken for:
2015-2-MLT-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup spectroscopy of transients)
2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Unraveling ring galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (x2) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-030 P1 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2015-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2015-2-SCI-033 P1 SCAM (Observations of Dwarf Novae in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2015-2-SCI-017 P1 SCAM (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2015-2-SCI-007 P2 RSS (Spectroscopic classification of pulsating stars. )

Monday, November 16, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-15

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico, Nick

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Summary
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Clear night with variable seeing and fast rising humidity that forced us to close around midnight.

Data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-030 P2 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2015-2-SCI-022 P3 RSS (Spectroscopy of early-type barred disk galaxies to investigate an ansae phenomena.)
2015-2-SCI-059 P3 RSS (RESOLVE survey kinematics observations)
2015-2-SCI-007 P3 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopic classification of pulsating stars. )

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-14

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico

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Summary
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This mostly clear night, with very good seeing, was used as productively as possible. The early morning got cloudy, but we could remain open and did shorter blocks to cloud-dodge if necessary.

Data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-013 P0 RSS (Classification of possible supernovae)
2015-2-SCI-017 P1 SCAM (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2015-2-SCI-030 P1 RSS (x4) (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-007 P3 RSS (x8) (Spectroscopic classification of pulsating stars. )
2015-2-SCI-022 P3 RSS (Spectroscopy of early-type barred disk galaxies to investigate an ansae phenomena.)

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-13

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others: Enrico

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Summary
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Friday the 13th was a beautifully clear, dark night with good seeing. Humidity rose steadily throughout and eventually we closed in the morning hours after successfully doing several high priority ToO observations.

Data taken for:
2015-2-SCI-061 P0 RSS (x3) (SALT follow-up of type Ia supernovae to study their spectral properties at targeted redshifts)
2015-2-SCI-031 P1 RSS (Connecting QSO absorption line systems with the associated galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-030 P1 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))

Friday, November 13, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-12

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Cloud dodging tonight lead to some rejected blocks. But data were nevertheless taken for:

2015-2-SCI-027 P0 HRS (Anchoring the extragalactic distance scale with an LMC eclipsing binary star)
2015-2-SCI-007 P3 RSS (x5) (Spectroscopic classification of pulsating stars. )

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-11

SA: Marissa
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Closed all night due to thick cloud.

No data taken.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-10

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Marissa and Enrico

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Summary
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Variable seeing and lots of clouds tonight - not our favourite night.
We took lots of engineering data for polarimetry and dual-etalon HR Fabry-Perot modes and science data for:

2015-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (x2) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-1-COM-002 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2015-2-SCI-022 P3 RSS (Spectroscopy of early-type barred disk galaxies to investigate an ansae phenomena.)
2015-2-SCI-049 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds)

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-09

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Another amazing start to the night with sub-arcsecond seeing in clear dark skies. And, deja-vu - at around midnight the fluffy invaders dirtied our beautiful sky and some blocks fell in the line of duty. But we waited a bit taking some polarimetry calibration data and the nasty stuff went away, to end the night with clear skies and sub-arcsecond seeing!

Science data for:

2015-2-SCI-060 P1 RSS (x2) (Study of OVI emissions as a function of optical brightness state in two SSS.)
2015-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (x2) (Fabry-Perot observations to trace the narrow line regions in nearby Seyfert 2s)
2015-1-COM-002 P1 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2015-2-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Study of the evolution of lenticular galaxies.)

Monday, November 9, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-08

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Chantal

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Summary
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A bit of a weird night. Started perfect, clear with good seeing, but then the seeing started varying, then we got cloud, and then it all magically vanished and we ended up with clear skies and sub-arcsecond seeing!

Many attempted (and rejected) science blocks, and accepted blocks for:

2015-2-SCI-061 P0 RSS (SALT follow-up of type Ia supernovae to study their spectral properties at targeted redshifts)
2015-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2015-2-SCI-054 P1 HRS (x2) (Exploring the limits of HRS for measuring Exoplanet Radial Velocities)
2015-2-SCI-007 P2 RSS (x3) (Spectroscopic classification of pulsating stars. )

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-07

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Finally! A nice, clear, dark night with decent seeing, even sub-arcsecond at times. Ok, ok, there were a few random clouds here and there, but who's counting?! We'll place the same order for tomorrow, please.

Obtained science data for:

2015-2-SCI-061 P0 RSS (SALT follow-up of type Ia supernovae to study their spectral properties at targeted redshifts)
2015-1-MLT-002 P0 RSS (x2) (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-2-SCI-033 P1 SCAM (Observations of Dwarf Novae in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2015-2-SCI-031 P1 RSS (Connecting QSO absorption line systems with the associated galaxies)

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-06

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: E10 and Johan at the beginning of the night, then Keith later on for SALTICAM

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Summary
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We were closed tonight, first due to a technical problem, then the clouds came in at about 12:30pm. No science data.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-05

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others:

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Summary
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Lost most of the night to cloud and drizzle. Opened up in the middle of the night for about 1 hour and managed to take one science block before the clouds forced us to close again.
Lots of calibration data gathered for dual-etalon high-resolution Fabry-Perot and for Polarimetric modes of RSS operation.
The science block was for:

2015-2-SCI-048 P1 RSS (DIBs towards the Red Rectangle)

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-04

SA: Encarni
SO: Veronica
Others: Gordon

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Summary
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A partly cloudy night with OK seeing - and despite the clouds, we managed to gather science data for:

2015-2-SCI-027 P0 HRS (Anchoring the extragalactic distance scale with an LMC eclipsing binary star)
2015-2-MLT-003 P1 RSS (x2) (Redshift measurements of distant massive ACT galaxy clusters)
2015-2-SCI-007 P2 RSS (Spectroscopic classification of pulsating stars. )
2015-2-SCI-025 P3 RSS (Unveiling powerful hidden black holes with spectra of obscured quasars)
2015-2-SCI-059 P3 RSS (RESOLVE survey kinematics observations)

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-03

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Encarni, Chantal, Briehan, Willie, Hannah, Gordon

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Summary
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Clear night with variable seeing.

Data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-061 P0 RSS (SALT follow-up of type Ia supernovae to study their spectral properties at targeted redshifts)
2015-2-SCI-040 P0 RSS (SALT ToO observation)
2015-2-MLT-001 P0 RSS (x2) (Followup spectroscopy of transients)
2015-2-SCI-033 P1 SCAM (Observations of Dwarf Novae in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2015-2-SCI-007 P2 RSS (Spectroscopic classification of pulsating stars. )
2015-2-SCI-029 P3 RSS (Spectroscopy of Kepler K2 White Dwarfs)
2015-2-SCI-059 P3 RSS (x2) (RESOLVE survey kinematics observations)
2015-2-SCI-022 P3 RSS (Spectroscopy of early-type barred disk galaxies to investigate an ansae phenomena.)

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-02

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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First data for semester 2015-2 taken in sub-arcsecond seeing during the first part of a beautifully clear, freezing night. Unfortunately our productive start was cut short by high humidity after midnight.

Data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-040 P0 RSS (SALT ToO observation)
2015-2-SCI-036 P1 RSS (Spectrophotometry of Magellanic symbiotic stars)
2015-2-SCI-008 P1 HRS (Determining the period of a multi-periodic pulsating binary system.)
2015-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-054 P1 HRS (Exploring the limits of HRS for measuring Exoplanet Radial Velocities)
2015-2-SCI-003 P1 HRS (Determining the distances to massive dusty stars that may be emitting microwave lasers)

Monday, November 2, 2015

Night Log 2015-11-01

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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Closed all night due to dense cloud-cover.

No data taken.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Night Log 2015-10-31

SA: Marissa
SO: Fred
Others: Enrico (shadowing Fred)

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Summary
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Happy Halloween!

Solid cloud-cover kept us closed the entire night.
No data taken on this final night of semester 2015-1.

Congratulations All Blacks on winning the Rugby World Cup. Excellent performance, Australia.