Night Log 2016-02-28

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others: Tim-Oliver

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Summary
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A productive night but with HRS offline with FIF out of action until it gets fixed on Monday. Data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (Fabry-Perot observations to trace the narrow line regions in nearby Seyfert 2s)
2015-1-MLT-004 P2 RSS (Deriving the mass of the central super-massive black hole in the core of active galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-026 P3 RSS (x2) (Probing the time variability of QSO absorption line)
2015-2-SCI-030 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))
2015-2-SCI-035 P3 RSS (x2) (Identifying new ultracompact binary star systems through their spectral characteristics)
2015-2-SCI-064 P4 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (x9) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-02-27

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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A bright night with mostly good seeing, but also a few technical issues. Data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-023 P1 HRS (HRS spectroscopy of eclipsing stars in Omega Centauri)
2015-1-MLT-004 P2 RSS (Deriving the mass of the central super-massive black hole in the core of active galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-041 P2 RSS (Spectroscopic classification of candidate magnetic cataclysmic variables in the CRTS)
2015-1-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-2-SCI-029 P3 RSS (Spectroscopy of Kepler K2 White Dwarfs)
2015-2-SCI-063 P3 SCAM (x2) (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)
2015-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (x2) (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)

Night Log 2016-02-26

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others: Johan, Tim-Oliver and colleague

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Summary
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Managed to get one observation in before high humidity and clouds. Data taken for:

2015-2-MLT-001 P0 SCAM (Followup spectroscopy of transients)

Night Log 2016-02-25

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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A productive bright night. Data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-012 P1 RSS (Searching for a companion to the eclipsing binary 1SWASP J161253.63-022042.2)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-009 P3 HRS (Searching for circumbinary planets)
2015-2-SCI-018 P3 HRS (x2) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-001 P3 HRS (Gravitational redshifts in planetary nebulae and spectra of dwarf tidal galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (x4) (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-02-24

SA: Brent
SO: Fred
Others:

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Summary
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A productive night with a little cloud in the middle and good seeing. Data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-018 P3 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-053 P3 RSS (Probing why hot stars can pulsate in the low-metal environment of the LMC.)
2015-2-SCI-009 P3 HRS (x2) (Searching for circumbinary planets)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)
2015-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (x5) (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)

Night Log 2016-02-23

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others: Fred

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Summary
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A productive night with very good seeing. Data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-012 P1 RSS (Searching for a companion to the eclipsing binary 1SWASP J161253.63-022042.2)
2015-1-MLT-004 P2 RSS (Deriving the mass of the central super-massive black hole in the core of active galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-018 P3 HRS (x2) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-009 P3 HRS (Searching for circumbinary planets)
2015-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (x8) (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)

Night Log 2016-02-22

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others: Eben by phone

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Summary
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A productive night with a nice long stretch of good seeing for most of the night. Data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-001 P2 HRS (Gravitational redshifts in planetary nebulae and spectra of dwarf tidal galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-018 P3 HRS (x2) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-009 P3 HRS (Searching for circumbinary planets)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (x5) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)
2015-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (x3) (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)

Night Log 2016-02-21

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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A productive night with a lot of thin cloud. Data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-018 P3 HRS (x2) (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-009 P3 HRS (Searching for circumbinary planets)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)
2015-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (x5) (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)

Night Log 2016-02-20

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others: Eben

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Summary
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Closed due to humidity around midnight. Otherwise data taken for:

2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-038 P3 HRS (Study of evolution in outflows from outburst)
2015-2-SCI-049 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-02-19

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Entire night lost to strong winds, high humidity and clouds.

Night Log 2016-02-18

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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A productive bright night. 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-MLT-006 P1 RSS (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-035 P3 RSS (x2) (Identifying new ultracompact binary star systems through their spectral characteristics)
2015-2-SCI-056 P3 HRS (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)
2015-2-SCI-063 P3 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)
2015-2-SCI-029 P3 RSS (Spectroscopy of Kepler K2 White Dwarfs)
2015-2-SCI-009 P3 HRS (Searching for circumbinary planets)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-02-17

SA: Brent
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Opened up after 1am after skies cleared and humidity dropped. Managed to get some science data for:

2015-1-MLT-004 P2 RSS (Deriving the mass of the central super-massive black hole in the core of active galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-063 P3 SCAM (Studying the long-term behavior of classical novae after their eruptions)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-02-16

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others: Steve C., Brent, Anastacia, Thea

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Summary
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Closed by humidity soon after midnight, and though the skies were
clear, the seeing was absolutely atrocious. Only science possible
in the conditions was P4 "back-up" observations for:

2015-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (x4) (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-02-15

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others: Steve C., David B., Simon, Anastacia

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Summary
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Most of the night closed due to humidity, in addition to average to
bad seeing in the beginning. Spent time on on-sky engineering
during bad seeing, some short observations before closing for:

2015-2-SCI-046 P2 RSS (A spectral study on low-mass T Tauri stars in the high mass star forming regions RCW 34 and NGC 2626)
2015-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)

Night Log 2016-02-14

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others: Steve C., Anastacia, Simon for a visit

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Summary
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A strange but good night. Seeing was sub-arcsecond all night,
and the skies were clear. But the humidity kept going up and down
right at the operational limits all night. We kept our heads cool and
worked through most of the bumps ... closed for an hour around
midnight only, and then just before twilight. No other problems.
Data for:

2015-2-MLT-001 P0 RSS (Followup spectroscopy of transients)
2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Unraveling ring galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Study of the evolution of lenticular galaxies.)
2015-2-SCI-032 P2 RSS (Multi-object spectra of known Halpha emission line stars in Trumpler 14.)
2015-2-SCI-026 P2 RSS (Probing the time variability of QSO absorption line)
2015-2-SCI-030 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))

Night Log 2016-02-13

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others: Steve C., Anastacia, Keith in the morning

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Summary
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Most of the night was lost to high humidity, though skies were clear.
Managed just 3 observations before having to close up around 11pm:

2015-2-SCI-046 P2 RSS (A spectral study on low-mass T Tauri stars in the high mass star forming regions RCW 34 and NGC 2626)
2015-2-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Study of the evolution of lenticular galaxies.)
2015-2-SCI-030 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS))

Night Log 2016-02-12

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others: Anastacia

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Summary
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Night was plagued by clouds, thick and thin, and everything in
between. We were closed soon after 3am due to humidity.
In addition to several unsuccessful attempts, some observations
were nevertheless completed during less cloudy bits. And the
seeing was actually good at those times. Data for:

2015-2-SCI-032 P2 RSS (Multi-object spectra of known Halpha emission line stars in Trumpler 14.)
2015-2-SCI-046 P2 RSS (A spectral study on low-mass T Tauri stars in the high mass star forming regions RCW 34 and NGC 2626)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (x2) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)
2015-2-SCI-049 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds)

Night Log 2016-02-11

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others: Steve C., Anastacia

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Summary
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Another clear and dark night; this time seeing was quite variable
however, and occasionally outright bad. Nevertheless, the night
was full of science observations, with an on-sky engineering system
throughput measurement thrown in too. Data 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-006 P1 RSS (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Unraveling ring galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-026 P2 RSS (Probing the time variability of QSO absorption line)
2015-1-MLT-004 P2 RSS (x2) (Deriving the mass of the central super-massive black hole in the core of active galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-029 P3 RSS (Spectroscopy of Kepler K2 White Dwarfs)
2015-2-SCI-049 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds)

Night Log 2016-02-10

SA: Petri
SO: Veronica
Others: Steve C., Anastasia

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Summary
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A wonderfully stable and clear night again, with seeing just above
one arcsec for most of the night. No problems whatsoever, so we
packed the night full of science for:

2015-2-SVP-003 P0 RSS (Polarimetric Observations of Supernova)
2015-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2015-2-SCI-060 P1 RSS (Study of OVI emissions as a function of optical brightness state in two SSS.)
2015-2-SCI-035 P1 RSS (Identifying new ultracompact binary star systems through their spectral characteristics)
2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Unraveling ring galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-052 P1 RSS (Detecting star forming galaxies in two distant, massive galaxy clusters.)
2015-2-SCI-024 P1 RSS (Fabry-Perot observations to trace the narrow line regions in nearby Seyfert 2s)
2015-2-SCI-041 P3 RSS (Spectroscopic classification of candidate magnetic cataclysmic variables in the CRTS)
2015-2-SCI-030 P3 RSS (Searching for high redshift quasars for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey, MALS)
2015-2-SCI-029 P3 RSS (Spectroscopy of Kepler K2 White Dwarfs)

Night Log 2016-02-09

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others: Petri, SteveC

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Summary
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A very productive night, with good seeing and good conditions.
We observed a very recently discovered supernova, in a beautiful galaxy (see the SALT news page for some details and a nice color image).
We have otained data for the following programs :
2015-1-MLT-002 P0 RSS (Observations of supernovae, near and far.)
2015-2-SVP-002 P0 RSS (Spectropolarimetric observations to verify that spectropolarimetry is ready for science!)
2015-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2015-2-SCI-020 P1 RSS (x2) (Confirming the first asteroid family in the orbit of Mars)
2015-2-MLT-004 P1 RSS (Unraveling ring galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-060 P1 RSS (Study of OVI emissions as a function of optical brightness state in two SSS.)
2015-2-SCI-059 P1 RSS (x2) (RESOLVE survey kinematics observations)
2015-2-SCI-033 P2 SCAM (Observations of Dwarf Novae in the Large Magellanic Cloud)

Night Log 2016-02-08

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Half the night could be used for science, then we had to close because of high humidity.
We could observe a supernova in a nearby galaxy, and a few other programs:
2015-2-SVP-002 P0 RSS (Spectropolarimetric observations to verify that spectropolarimetry is ready for science!)
2015-2-SCI-013 P0 RSS (Classification of possible supernovae)
2015-2-COM-003 P0 RSS (Polarimetry test proposal)
2015-2-SCI-018 P1 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-031 P2 RSS (Connecting QSO absorption line systems with the associated galaxies)

Night Log 2016-02-07

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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No data taken tonight because of high humidity.
We could get some commissionning data for
2015-2-SVP-002 P0 RSS (Spectropolarimetric observations to verify that spectropolarimetry is ready for science!)

Night Log 2016-02-06

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Another productive night. No technical problem, weather cooperative until the end of the night. We have observed an asteroid in the orbit of Mars, and that is pretty cool!
We have been able to observe the following programs:

2015-2-SVP-002 P0 RSS (Spectropolarimetric observations to verify that spectropolarimetry is ready for science!)
2015-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (x2) (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2015-2-SCI-031 P1 RSS (Connecting QSO absorption line systems with the associated galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-020 P1 RSS (x2) (Confirming the first asteroid family in the orbit of Mars)
2015-2-SCI-026 P1 RSS (x2) (Probing the time variability of QSO absorption line)
2015-2-SCI-017 P1 RSS (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2015-2-SCI-018 P3 HRS (Evolved binaries in the Magellanic Clouds)

Night Log 2016-02-05

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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A productive night, with no technical problem, a very cooperative weather and some good conditions overall.
We have obtained data for the following programs:
2015-2-SVP-002 P0 RSS (Spectropolarimetric observations to verify that spectropolarimetry is ready for science!)
2015-2-SCI-061 P0 RSS (SALT follow-up of type Ia supernovae to study their spectral properties at targeted redshifts)
2015-2-SCI-026 P1 RSS (Probing the time variability of QSO absorption line)
2015-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (x3) (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2015-2-SCI-020 P1 RSS (Confirming the first asteroid family in the orbit of Mars)
2015-2-SCI-031 P1 RSS (Connecting QSO absorption line systems with the associated galaxies)

Night Log 2016-02-04

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others: Etienne and Paul briefly at the beginning of the night

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Summary
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We could observe during the first half of the night, then humidity forced us to close.

We have observed for the following programs:
2015-2-SVP-002 P0 RSS (Spectropolarimetric observations to verify that spectropolarimetry is ready for science!)
2015-2-SCI-026 P1 RSS (Probing the time variability of QSO absorption line)
2015-2-SCI-017 P1 SCAM (x2) (Dark energy and the expansion rate of the Universe from quasar monitoring.)
2015-2-SCI-033 P2 SCAM (Observations of Dwarf Novae in the Large Magellanic Cloud)

Night Log 2016-02-03

SA: �ric
SO: Thea
Others:

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Summary
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Entire night lost to weather.
We could take some engineering data to commission the polarimetric mode, and to characterize our CCDs.

Night Log 2016-02-02

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others: Eric, Ivan, Yulia and Tamara for a while

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Summary
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=> Very unstable and cloudy night. Tried to observe but only few real observations were finally done. Closed by humidity and clouds. But spectropolarimetric observations were done at the beginning of the night.

=> Data were taken for the following programs:
2015-2-SVP-002 P0 RSS (Spectropolarimetric observations to verify that spectropolarimetry is ready for science!)
2015-2-SCI-009 P3 HRS (Searching for circumbinary planets)
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)
2015-2-SCI-049 P4 RSS (Monitoring the X-ray bright sgB[e] stars in Magellanic Clouds)
2015-2-SCI-056 P4 HRS (x2) (Tracing the chemical history of our galaxy)

Night Log 2016-02-01

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others: Ivan, Yulia and Tamara for a while

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Summary
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=> Entire night lost due to bad weather. No any science data taken.

=> HRS weekly calibrations were done.

Night Log 2016-01-31

SA: Alexei
SO: Veronica
Others: Ivan, Yulia and Tamara for a while

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Summary
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=> Very nice and stable night with very good seeing during most of the night. Seeing started to be worse at the end of the night.

=> Data were taken for the following programs:
2015-2-MLT-006 P1 RSS (x3) (Characterising Strong Gravitational Lensing systems)
2015-2-SCI-033 P2 SCAM (Observations of Dwarf Novae in the Large Magellanic Cloud)
2015-2-MLT-002 P2 RSS (Study of the evolution of lenticular galaxies.)
2015-1-MLT-004 P2 RSS (Deriving the mass of the central super-massive black hole in the core of active galaxies)
2015-2-SCI-019 P2 RSS (x2) (Searching for binaries in unusual central stars of planetary nebulae )
2015-2-SCI-043 P4 RSS (x3) (Spectroscopic observations of bright RR Lyrae variables)