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Night Reports 2015

In the tables below, Observing, Weather and Technical refer to time spent observing, time lost to bad weather, and time lost because of technical problems. Note that Observing includes time spent on calibration observations and, occasionally, scheduled on-sky test observations; Technical does not include scheduled downtime (e.g. for planned engineering work).

The Night Duty Officer estimates whether the night was photometric or non-photometric (spectroscopic) based on satellite imagery and SkyCam data obtained through the night. This is a qualitative assessment only and may not always be entirely accurate. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT, ON OCCASION, OBSERVATIONS REQUIRING PHOTOMETRIC CONDITIONS ARE ACQUIRED IN NON-PHOTOMETRIC CONDITIONS. Users should check the quality of their data carefully. Good, average and poor seeing refers to inferred zenith seeing of < 1.0 arcsec, 1.0-2.0 arcsec, and > 2.0 arcsec, respectively. Calima refers to fine dust that occasionally blows over from the Sahara.

SKYCAM MOVIES AND ATMOSPHERIC TRANSMISSION

Below we also provide links to Movies constructed from a sequence of optical images obtained with either SkyCam-A (covering the whole sky), SkyCam-T (now showing a 9 degree field centred on each target; was 21 deg pre-21 Oct) or SkyCam-Z (1 degree field). Images are obtained every minute or so throughout the entire night. These movies can usually be used to establish, qualitatively at least, how clear or cloudy a given night was. On bright nights (i.e. when the moon is up), the smaller-field camera's T and Z are often more useful than the full-sky camera A. Additional movies and still images are available from the Skycam Archive. Plots of SkyCamZ Zero Point data are also provided. Zero points here are defined with respect to APASS 10 < r < 13 with no colour term. These indicate to first order periods of thin or thick cloud. A clear night usually results in a flat distribution of ZP values, while thick cloud causes a dip in the ZP level. 'A', 'T' and 'Z' in the SkyCam columns refer to the camera from which the data were acquired.

December 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
31 Dec10.90.00.0Photometric. IO:O offline. Z A T Z
30 Dec10.90.00.0Photometric. IO:O offline. Z A T Z
29 Dec10.90.00.0Photometric. IO:O offline. Z A T Z
28 Dec10.90.00.0Non-photometric with average seeing. Z A T Z
27 Dec10.60.30.0Photometric with average seeing. There was some thick cloud just before morning twilight. Z A T Z
26 Dec0.010.90.0High humidity. Z A T Z
25 Dec10.50.40.0Full Moon. Not truly photometric. No cloud, but increasing dust extinction; see plot. Windy. Z A T Z
24 Dec10.90.00.0Mostly photometric. Cirrus at start of night. Poor seeing. Z A T Z
23 Dec10.90.00.0Photometric. Variable, but mostly poor, seeing Z A T Z
22 Dec10.90.00.0Photometric. Poor seeing. Some manual observing early in night. Z A T Z
21 Dec0.09.41.5Basebox power supply fault. High humidity. - -
20 Dec10.90.00.0Non-photometric, poor/average seeing. Z A T Z
19 Dec7.13.80.0Non-photometric, average/poor seeing. High humidity and thick clouds closed us the second half of the night. Z A T Z
18 Dec10.90.00.0Photometric, average/poor seeing. Z A T Z
17 Dec10.90.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
16 Dec10.90.00.0Non-photometric, average/poor seeing. Z A T Z
15 Dec8.82.10.0Non-photometric, average/poor seeing. Closed due to high winds and cloud. Z A T Z
14 Dec10.90.00.0Non-photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
13 Dec8.72.20.0Non-photometric. Average seeing. Short period of thick cloud at start of night. Z A T Z
12 Dec10.30.60.0Non-photometric. Average seeing. Thick cloud for a short period. Z A T Z
11 Dec10.60.30.0Non-photometric. Average seeing. Closed by thick cloud in the morning. New Moon. Z A T Z
10 Dec9.91.00.0Non-photometric. Closed for a short period by thick cloud. Average / poor seeing. Z A T Z
9 Dec7.33.60.0Non-photometric. Closed by thick cloud. Average / poor seeing. Z A T Z
8 Dec4.76.20.0Non-photometric. Closed by thick cloud. Average seeing. Z A T Z
7 Dec0.010.90.0Thick cloud all night - -
6 Dec0.010.80.0Thick cloud all night - -
5 Dec0.010.80.0Thick cloud all night - -
4 Dec1.39.50.0Cloudy Z A T Z
3 Dec6.74.10.0Good seeing, but patchy cloud Z A T Z
2 Dec10.80.00.0Non-photometric. Average seeing. Z A T Z
1 Dec1.09.80.0Cloud and high humidity Z A T Z

November 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
30 Nov0.010.80.0Thick cloud. Z A T Z
29 Nov5.65.10.0Non-photometric, average seeing. Time lost due to high humidity. Z A T Z
28 Nov10.70.00.0Non-photometric, poor seeing. Z A T Z
27 Nov10.70.00.0Non-photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
26 Nov10.70.00.0Photometric, average/poor seeing. Z A T Z
25 Nov8.70.02.0Non-photometric, poor seeing. Full Moon. Z A T Z
24 Nov4.46.30.0Non-photometric. Poor seeing. Time lost to high humidity. Z A T Z
23 Nov10.70.00.0Photometric, poor seeing. Z A T Z
22 Nov0.610.10.0High humidity most of night, observed a little just before dawn. Non-photometric, poor seeing. Z A T Z
21 Nov10.70.00.0Photometric, average/good seeing. Z A T Z
20 Nov10.60.00.0Photometric, average/good seeing. Z A T Z
19 Nov10.60.00.0Non-photometric, average/poor seeing. Z A T Z
18 Nov10.60.00.0Photometric for first half of night, non-photometric in the morning. Very poor seeing (3"+) for most of the night. Z A T Z
17 Nov10.60.00.0Photometric, average/poor seeing. Z A T Z
16 Nov10.60.00.0Photometric, average to good seeing. Z A T Z
15 Nov10.00.60.0Photometric, average to good seeing. Some cloud later on in the night. Z A T Z
14 Nov4.75.90.0Spectroscopic, poor to average seeing. Thick cloud. Z A T Z
13 Nov10.60.00.0Spectroscopic, poor seeing. Z A T Z
12 Nov10.00.50.0Spectroscopic, poor seeing. Thick cloud stopped observations for about half an hour. Z A T Z
11 Nov8.02.50.0Spectroscopic, average to poor seeing. Thick cloud and high humidity. New Moon. Z A T Z
10 Nov1.78.80.0Spectroscopic, average to poor seeing. Thick cloud. Z A T Z
9 Nov10.50.00.0Spectroscopic, average to poor seeing. Z A T Z
8 Nov10.50.00.0Scattered cloud throughout the night. Average seeing. Z A T Z
7 Nov10.40.00.0Photometric. Good / average seeing. Z A T Z
6 Nov10.40.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Z A T Z
5 Nov10.40.00.0Photometric. Good / average seeing. Z A T Z
4 Nov10.40.00.0Photometric. Good seeing. Z A T Z
3 Nov10.40.00.0Photometric. Average - good seeing. Z A T Z
2 Nov9.31.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. 1 hour offline due to cloud on site. Z A T Z
1 Nov0.01.09.3Alt node fault. High humidity. - -

October 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
31 Oct0.010.20.0High humidity - -
30 Oct0.010.20.0High humidity - -
29 Oct9.90.00.3Photometric. Average seeing. AG focus problem. Z A T Z
28 Oct10.20.00.0Average seeing. Non-photometric. Z A T Z
27 Oct10.20.00.0Full Moon. Average seeing. Non-photometric, but clear after 23:00UTC. Z A T Z
26 Oct5.84.40.0Photometric with good seeing, high humidity in second half of night. Z A T Z
25 Oct7.32.80.0High humidity at start of night, photometric with average seeing after. Z A T Z
24 Oct0.010.10.0High humidity, no observing. - -
23 Oct0.010.10.0High humidity, no observing. - -
22 Oct0.010.10.0High humidity, no observing. - -
21 Oct0.010.10.0High humidity, no observing. - -
20 Oct0.010.00.0High humidity, no observing. Z A T Z
19 Oct0.010.00.0High humidity, no observing. Z A T Z
18 Oct3.56.50.0Non-photometric with average/poor seeing. High humidity throughout second half of night. FRODOspec and IO:I offline. Z A T Z
17 Oct0.09.90.0High humidity. No observing. Z A T Z
16 Oct0.09.90.0High humidity. No observing - -
15 Oct0.09.90.0High humidity. - -
14 Oct2.67.30.0Non-photometric with average seeing. High humidity for most of night. Z A T Z
13 Oct8.81.00.0Non-photometric with average seeing. Time lost due to high humidity New Moon. Z A T Z
12 Oct9.80.00.0Non-photometric with average/good seeing. Z A T Z
11 Oct4.35.50.0Spectroscopic with good seeing. Weathered with high humidity for the second half of the night. Z A T Z
10 Oct6.03.70.0Spectroscopic with good / average seeing. Weathered with high humidity for two periods. Z A T Z
9 Oct0.09.70.0High humidity / cloud all night. No observing. - -
8 Oct7.52.20.0Non-photometric, variable seeing. High humidity and thick cloud. Z A T Z
7 Oct9.70.00.0Non-photometric, good/average seeing. Z A T Z
6 Oct9.70.00.0Non-photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
5 Oct9.70.00.0Non-photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
4 Oct0.09.60.0High humidity, high winds and thick cloud. - -
3 Oct0.09.60.0High humidity and thick cloud. - -
2 Oct0.09.60.0Telescope started up and started twilight flats, however thick cloud soon ended operations. - -
1 Oct1.08.50.0One hour spectroscopic observing in the morning, Thick cloud rest of night. Z A T Z

September 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
30 Sep9.50.00.0Non-photometric from 23:00 onwards, average seeing. Z A T Z
29 Sep9.50.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
28 Sep5.04.40.0 Spectroscopic at start, switched to Photometric before midnight. Average seeing.Full Moon. Z A T Z
27 Sep8.41.00.0Poor seeing. Very almost photometric, but rare, small cloud patches. Lunar eclipse. Z A T Z
26 Sep3.85.60.0Poor seeing. Patchy cloud. Z A T Z
25 Sep5.63.70.0Average seeing. Cloud and high humidity Z A T Z
24 Sep3.06.30.0Poor seeing. Cloudy. Z A T Z
23 Sep2.56.80.0Wildly variable seeing, mostly poor. Lots of cloud.  Z A T Z
22 Sep0.09.20.0High humidity - - - -
21 Sep5.51.81.9Very little cloud and good seeing. High humidity later in night. P36 error on startup. Z A T Z
20 Sep9.20.00.0Non-photometric, good/average seeing. Z A T Z
19 Sep9.20.00.0Non-photometric, average seeing. High humidity for most of night. Z A T Z
18 Sep0.78.40.0Non-photometric with average-to-poor seeing. High humidity for most of the night. Z A T Z
17 Sep1.08.10.0Photometric & good seeing at start, then high humidity for rest of night. Z A T Z
16 Sep9.10.00.0Photometric, good seeing. Z A T Z
15 Sep0.40.08.6Photometric, good seeing in evening. Down rest of night due to TCS-RCS communications fault. Z A T Z
14 Sep9.00.00.0Photometric; good-to-average seeing. Z A T Z
13 Sep9.00.00.0New Moon. Non-photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
12 Sep4.55.50.0Non-photometric, good to average seeing. High humidity in first half of night. Z A T Z
11 Sep8.90.00.0Non-photometric, good to average seeing. Z A T Z
10 Sep2.06.90.0Good seeing, some cloud. Closed at 22:40 due to cloud/humidity. Z A T Z
9 Sep8.80.00.0Average seeing. Some cloud in second half of night. Z A T Z
8 Sep8.80.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Z A T Z
7 Sep8.80.00.0Photometric. Good to average seeing. Z A T Z
6 Sep8.70.00.0Photometric. Mostly good seeing. Z A T Z
5 Sep3.15.60.0Photometric. Good seeing. Intermittent humidity. Z A T Z
4 Sep8.70.00.0Photometric. Excellent seeing. Z A T Z
3 Sep8.60.00.0Photometric. Good seeing. Z A T Z
2 Sep8.30.00.3Photometric. Average seeing. Problem with telescope focus in the middle of the night. Z A T Z
1 Sep8.60.00.0Photometric. Average seeing Z A T Z

August 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
31 Aug8.50.00.0Photometric. Average seeing Z A T Z
30 Aug8.50.00.0Set photometric, but a small amount of light cloud around. Good/average seeing. Z A T Z
29 Aug8.50.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Full Moon. Z A T Z
28 Aug6.42.00.0Spectroscopic, average seeing. Thick cloud. Z A T Z
27 Aug8.40.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
26 Aug8.40.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
25 Aug7.90.00.4Photometric, average seeing. Cass rotator fault. Z A T Z
24 Aug8.30.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
23 Aug8.30.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
22 Aug8.20.00.0Photometric, average / good seeing. Z A T Z
21 Aug8.20.00.0Spectroscopic, average seeing. Z A T Z
20 Aug1.27.00.0Closed by thick cloud most of the night. Spectroscopic on opening. Average seeing. Z A T Z
19 Aug8.20.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Low dust levels. Z A T Z
18 Aug8.10.00.0Photometric. Average / Good seeing. Z A T Z
17 Aug8.10.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. IO:I offline. Z A T Z
16 Aug8.10.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. IO:O offline. Z A T Z
15 Aug8.10.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. IO:O offline. Z A T Z
14 Aug80.00.0Photometric. New Moon. Z A T Z
13 Aug0.08.00.0High humidity and thick cloud. IO:O offline. - -
12 Aug0.07.90.0High humidity and thick cloud. IO:O offline. - -
11 Aug0.07.90.0High humidity and thick cloud. IO:O offline. - -
10 Aug0.07.90.0High humidity and thick cloud. IO:O offline. - -
9 Aug5.91.90.0Non-photometric; high humidity and thick cloud at times. IO:O offline. Z A T Z
8 Aug0.07.80.0Thick cloud & high humidity all night; no observing. Z A T Z
7 Aug2.74.90.2Non-photometric, average seeing, poor at end of night. High humidity. IO:O shutter problems. Z A T Z
6 Aug7.70.00.0Photometric, good/average seeing. Z A T Z
5 Aug7.70.00.0Non-photometric, good-to-average seeing. Z A T Z
4 Aug7.60.00.0Photometric, good seeing. Z A T Z
3 Aug7.60.00.0Photometric, good seeing. Z A T Z
2 Aug7.60.00.0Photometric, good seeing. Low dust levels. Z A T Z
1 Aug7.60.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Low dust levels. Z A T Z

July 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
31 Jul7.60.00.0Photometric, periods of good seeing. Low dust levels. Full Moon. Z A T Z
30 Jul0.00.07.5Telescope offline, cooling and pumping IO:I. Z A T Z
29 Jul7.50.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
28 Jul7.40.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
27 Jul7.40.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
26 Jul7.40.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
25 Jul7.40.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
24 Jul7.40.00.0Photometric, average/poor seeing. Z A T Z
23 Jul7.30.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Autoguider temperature failure. Z A T Z
22 Jul7.30.00.0Photometric, good/average seeing. Z A T Z
21 Jul7.30.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Engineering work on LOTUS. Z A T Z
20 Jul7.30.00.0Non-photometric, poor seeing. Z A T Z
19 Jul7.20.00.0Photometric, good-to-average seeing. Z A T Z
18 Jul7.20.00.0Photometric, good seeing. Z A T Z
17 Jul7.20.00.0Photometric, good seeing. Z A T Z
16 Jul7.20.00.0Photometric; good seeing. New Moon. Z A T Z
15 Jul7.10.00.0Non-photometric; good seeing. Z A T Z
14 Jul6.01.10.0Non-photometric. Seeing good-average. Brief cloud in middle of night, and more sustained in morning twilight. Z A T Z
13 Jul1.85.30.0Non-photometric. Good seeing, but cloud rolled in just after 23h UT. Z A T Z
12 Jul7.10.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Calima levels between 2 and 27 μg/m3. Z A T Z
11 Jul7.10.00.0Photometric, average/occasionally poor seeing. Calima levels dropping, now down to 4μg/m3. Z A T Z
10 Jul7.10.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Calima between 11 and 40μg/m3. Z A T Z
9 Jul7.00.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Calima hovering between 14 and 50μg/m3. Z A T Z
8 Jul7.00.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Calima dropping back steadily. Z A T Z
7 Jul0.07.00.0High calima. No observing. Z A T Z
6 Jul7.00.00.0Set to photometric, but with Calima spikes. Average seeing. Problem with IO:O filter wheel at start of night. Z A T Z
5 Jul7.00.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Z A T Z
4 Jul7.00.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Z A T Z
3 Jul7.00.00.0Photometric. Good seeing. Z A T Z
2 Jul7.00.00.0Full Moon. Photometric. Good seeing. First fully robotic night after mirror recoating. Z A T Z
1 Jul6.90.00.0Mixture of commissioning and robotic observations. Z A T Z

June 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
30 Jun6.90.00.0Mixture of commissioning and robotic observations. - A T Z
29 Jun6.90.00.0Mixture of commissioning and robotic observations. - A T Z
28 Jun6.90.00.0Mixture of commissioning and robotic observations. - A T Z
27 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - A T Z
26 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - A T Z
25 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - A T Z
24 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - A T Z
23 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - A T Z
22 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - A T Z
21 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - -
20 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - -
19 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - -
18 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - -
17 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - -
16 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. New Moon. - -
15 Jun0.00.00.0Scheduled maintenance; no observing. - -
14 Jun5.21.70.0Photometric, good/average seeing. Some high humidity in second half of night. Z A T Z
13 Jun0.06.90.0Cloud & rain, high humidity all night - -
12 Jun6.90.00.0Non-photometric, good seeing. Z A T Z
11 Jun6.90.00.0Non-photometric; good/average seeing. Z A T Z
10 Jun6.00.90.0Started photometric, with some cloud towards the end of night. Poor/Average seeing. High humidity. Z A T Z
9 Jun6.90.00.0Photometric, with average seeing. Z A T Z
8 Jun6.90.00.0Non photometric, especially at the start of night. Good seeing. Z A T Z
7 Jun7.00.00.0Average to good seeing, photometric. Z A T Z
6 Jun70.00.0Average seeing, photometric. Low levels of Calima present in atmosphere (steadily diminishing). Z A T Z
5 Jun5.02.00.0Spectroscopic, periods of thick cloud / high humidity and high wind speeds. Some Calima. Z A T Z
4 Jun7.00.00.0Photometric, poor seeing. Some Calima. Z A T Z
3 Jun7.00.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Some Calima in atmosphere. Z A T Z
2 Jun7.00.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Calima present at 53 µgr/m³. Full Moon. Z A T Z
1 Jun7.00.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z

May 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
31 May7.10.00.0Photometric and average seeing. Z A T Z
30 May7.10.00.0Photometric and average seeing. Z A T Z
29 May7.10.00.0Photometric and average seeing. Z A T Z
28 May7.10.00.0Photometric though poor seeing first half of night, average seeing second half. Z A T Z
27 May5.51.60.0Photometric, good-average seeing. High humidity in first part of night. Z A T Z
26 May7.20.00.0Photometric and good seeing. Z A T Z
25 May7.20.00.0Photometric and good seeing. Z A T Z
24 May7.30.00.0Photometric and good seeing. Z A T Z
23 May7.30.00.0Photometric and good-to-average seeing. Z A T Z
22 May7.30.00.0Photometric. Mostly good seeing. Z A T Z
21 May7.30.00.0Photometric, good/average seeing. Z A T Z
20 May4.42.90.0Non-photometric, average/poor seeing. Closed enclosure often due to high wind speeds. Z A T Z
19 May4.33.00.0Photometric, average seeing. High wind speeds in morning. Z A T Z
18 May7.40.00.0Photometric, good-to-average seeing. New Moon. Z A T Z
17 May7.40.00.0Photometric. Good seeing. Z A T Z
16 May7.40.00.0Set non-photometric, little cloud but a lot of calima. Good seeing. Z A T Z
15 May1.55.90.0Non-photometric (high cloud and calima). Good/average seeing. Z A T Z
14 May5.91.60.0Non-photometric (high cloud and calima). Average/poor seeing. Z A T Z
13 May7.50.00.0Non-photometric (high cloud and calima). Good/average seeing. Z A T Z
12 May0.07.50.0Thick high cloud. - -
11 May3.04.50.0Non-photometric, lots of calima and some cloud. Good seeing. Z A T Z
10 May7.60.00.0Non-photometric, some calima. Average seeing. Z A T Z
9 May7.60.00.0Photometric, good/average seeing. Z A T Z
8 May7.60.00.0Photometric, good seeing. Z A T Z
7 May7.70.00.0Photometric, good-to-average seeing. Z A T Z
6 May0.80.06.9Photometric, good seeing. Ran until NTP fault in telescope control system late in first half of night. Z A T Z
5 May7.80.00.0Photometric, good seeing. Z A T Z
4 May0.00.07.8Telescope offline due to Timeserver / NTP fault. Full Moon. - -
3 May0.00.07.9Telescope offline due to Timeserver / NTP fault. - -
2 May3.52.71.5Non-photometic. Lots of high cloud, some thick. Timeserver / NTP fault. Z A T Z
1 May7.90.00.0Photometric. Varying seeing, mostly average. Z A T Z

April 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
30 Apr7.90.00.0Non-photometric. Average seeing. Z A T Z
29 Apr8.00.00.0Non-photometric. Good seeing. Z A T Z
28 Apr8.00.00.0Non-photometric. Good seeing. Z A T Z
27 Apr8.00.00.0Non-photometric. Good/Average seeing. Z A T Z
26 Apr8.00.00.0Photometric and good seeing. Z A T Z
25 Apr7.80.30.0Non-photometric though cirrus thin; good seeing. Closed early due to rising humidity. Z A T Z
24 Apr8.10.00.0Photometric and good seeing. Z A T Z
23 Apr7.50.60.0Non-photometric towards end of the night though cirrus very thin; good seeing. Closed briefly due to a humidity spike. Z A T Z
22 Apr8.10.00.0Good seeing, photometric. Z A T Z
21 Apr0.00.00.0Off sky for scheduled maintenance (oil change). - -
20 Apr5.23.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Lost time to humidity. Z A T Z
19 Apr8.20.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
18 Apr8.20.00.0Photometric, average seeing. SPRAT offline for some of the night. New Moon. Z A T Z
17 Apr8.30.00.0Mostly photometric (some very thin cirrus) and good seeing. Z A T Z
16 Apr8.40.00.0Photometric and good-to-average seeing. Z A T Z
15 Apr8.40.00.0Photometric and good-to-average seeing. Z A T Z
14 Apr8.50.00.0Photometric and good seeing. Z A T Z
13 Apr0.08.50.0High humidity and near-freezing temperatures. No data acquired. - -
12 Apr5.82.80.0Photometric & good seeing until closed by humidity Z A T Z
11 Apr8.60.00.0Photometric. Average-to-good seeing. Z A T Z
10 Apr8.30.30.0Photometric. Average-to-poor seeing. Humidity just before dawn. Z A T Z
9 Apr8.60.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Z A T Z
8 Apr8.60.00.0Photometric. Average to good seeing. Z A T Z
7 Apr3.05.70.0Average seeing and photometric. Cloud and sub-zero temperatures interrupted observing. Z A T Z
6 Apr1.77.00.0Good at start, but high humidity most of night Z A T Z
5 Apr8.80.00.0Photometric; average/good seeing. Z A T Z
4 Apr8.80.00.0Photometric. Good/average seeing. Full Moon. Z A T Z
3 Apr0.00.08.8Enclosure ram pressure fault; no observing - -
2 Apr0.00.08.8Enclosure ram pressure fault; no observing. - -
1 Apr8.80.00.0Non-photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z

March 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
31 Mar8.50.40.0Non-photometric; good to average seeing with a brief bout of cloud in the wee hours. Z A T Z
30 Mar8.90.00.0Non-photometric. Good-to-average seeing. Z A T Z
29 Mar9.00.00.0Non-photometric. Poor seeing. Z A T Z
28 Mar9.00.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Z A T Z
27 Mar9.10.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. Z A T Z
26 Mar0.09.10.0Ice. No observing. - -
25 Mar0.09.10.0Ice. No observing. - -
24 Mar0.09.20.0Ice. No observing. - -
23 Mar0.09.20.0Ice. No observing. - -
22 Mar0.09.20.0Icy conditions, sub-zero temperatures. - -
21 Mar0.09.20.0Icy conditions, sub-zero temperatures. - -
20 Mar0.09.30.0Icy conditions on site. No observing. New Moon. - -
19 Mar0.09.30.0Icy conditions on site. No observing. - -
18 Mar0.09.30.0Icy conditions on site. No observing. - -
17 Mar9.40.00.0Photometric with average-to-good seeing. Z A T Z
16 Mar9.40.00.0Some thin cirrus at the start and end of the night; relatively clear most of the time. Good seeing. Z A T Z
15 Mar9.40.00.0Average seeing, photometric. Z A T Z
14 Mar9.40.00.0Average seeing, photometric. Z A T Z
13 Mar9.40.00.0Average seeing, photometric. Z A T Z
12 Mar9.50.00.0Average seeing, photometric. Z A T Z
11 Mar9.50.00.0Photometric with average seeing. Z A T Z
10 Mar9.50.00.0Photometric with average seeing. Z A T Z
9 Mar9.60.00.0Photometric with average seeing. Z A T Z
8 Mar4.25.40.0Non-photometric, poor seeing, moderate-strong winds Z A T Z
7 Mar0.09.60.0Cloud - -
6 Mar9.60.10.0Scheduler in photometric mode but lots of calima and thin cloud after midnight. Seeing good - average. Z A T Z
5 Mar9.70.00.0Photometric. Good seeing, degrading slightly in second half of night. Full Moon. Z A T Z
4 Mar9.70.00.0Photometric; 2.1 hours of scheduled work on new pointing model at start of night. Average-to-poor seeing. Z A T Z
3 Mar9.80.00.0Just a little thin cloud at very start of night. Average seeing. Z A T Z
2 Mar0.89.00.0Spectroscopic; cloudy for most of the night. Z A T Z
1 Mar9.80.00.0Photometric, good-to-average seeing. Z A T Z

February 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
28 Feb9.80.00.0Photometric, average-to-poor seeing. Z A T Z
27 Feb9.80.00.0Photometric, average-to-poor seeing. Z A T Z
26 Feb9.90.00.0Photometric, average seeing. Z A T Z
25 Feb9.90.00.0Photometric, but poor seeing. Z A T Z
24 Feb9.90.00.0Photometric, but poor seeing from about midnight onwards Z A T Z
23 Feb10.00.00.0Photometric until ~0300 UT Z A T Z
22 Feb0.010.00.0Ice - -
21 Feb0.010.00.0Ice - -
20 Feb0.010.00.0Ice - -
19 Feb0.010.00.0Ice - -
18 Feb0.010.10.0High humidity and freezing temperatures ⇒ thick ice coating everything. No observing. New Moon. - -
17 Feb1.48.70.0High winds causing only intermittent observing for first half of night, then too windy for rest of night. Average-to-poor seeing. Z A T Z
16 Feb7.03.10.0Photometric with intermittent high humidity Z A T Z
15 Feb5.74.40.0Photometric with average seeing. Closed three times due to thick cloud; sky clearer towards end of night. Z A T Z
14 Feb10.10.00.0Photometric with average-to-good seeing. Z A T Z
13 Feb10.20.00.0Photometric with average-to-good seeing. Z A T Z
12 Feb10.20.00.0Photometric with average seeing. Z A T Z
11 Feb9.70.50.0Photometric with good-to-average seeing. Closed slightly early due to rising humidity. Z A T Z
10 Feb0.010.20.0High humidity and risk of ice; no observing. - -
9 Feb0.010.30.0Freezing fog and ice; no observing. - -
8 Feb0.010.30.0Freezing fog and snow; no observing. - -
7 Feb0.010.30.0High humidity and freezing conditions. Risk of ice means no operations tonight. - -
6 Feb3.64.91.8Photometric. Closed by thick cloud. Enclosure sensor fault (now fixed). Z A T Z
5 Feb10.40.00.0Non-photometric. Average seeing. Z A T Z
4 Feb10.40.00.0Telescope set to photometric, however a layer of cloud developed during the middle of the night. Periods of good seeing. SPRAT back online. Z A T Z
3 Feb10.40.00.0Photometric. Average seeing. SPRAT still offline. Full Moon. Z A T Z
2 Feb9.21.20.0Poor seeing, and non-photometric with quite thick cloud in the middle of the night. Time lost to thick cloud. Z A T Z
1 Feb10.40.00.0Non-photometric though good seeing. SPRAT still offline. Z A T Z

January 2015

DateHours UsedCommentSkyCam
ObservingWeatherTechnicalZP PlotMovie
31 Jan4.00.06.5Non-photometric, average/good seeing. Robotic Control System failure just after midnight. Z A T Z
30 Jan10.40.10.0Photometric, average/good seeing. Humidity spike just before twilight. Z A T Z
29 Jan10.50.00.0Photometric, average/poor seeing. SPRAT still offline. Z A T Z
28 Jan10.60.00.0Non-photometric, average/poor seeing. Z A T Z
27 Jan2.80.07.8Non-photometric, average/poor seeing. DeviceNet Master Error at ~11pm Z A T Z
26 Jan10.60.00.0Set photometric, but some light haze about. Average to poor seeing. SPRAT temporarily disabled. Z A T Z
25 Jan10.60.00.0Photometric; average-to-poor seeing. SPRAT temporarily disabled. Z A T Z
24 Jan10.60.00.0Photometric; average seeing. SPRAT temporarily disabled. Z A T Z
23 Jan10.60.00.0Photometric; average seeing. SPRAT temporarily disabled. Z A T Z
22 Jan10.60.00.0Photometric; average-to-poor seeing. SPRAT temporarily disabled. Z A T Z
21 Jan10.00.00.6Photometric, average seeing. SPRAT slit mechanism problems. Z A T Z
20 Jan0.010.70.0No observing due to humid/freezing conditions for most of night, and likely risk of ice on enclosure mechanisms. New Moon. - -
19 Jan9.90.00.8Photometric; poor seeing. Auxiliary mechanism node reboot due to autoguider deploy fault, plus SPRAT slit mechanism problems. Z A T Z
18 Jan6.04.30.4Opened late due to high humidity. Set non-photometric though probably clear. Average seeing; high winds throughout (10 m/s). SPRAT slit mechanism problems. Z A T Z
17 Jan6.54.20.0Photometric with good seeing. Closed at around 3am due to high humidity. Z A T Z
16 Jan10.20.00.5Photometric with average seeing. Some SPRAT issues after 03:00. Z A T Z
15 Jan9.80.00.9Photometric with good seeing. SPRAT slit/grism deployment problems. Z A T Z
14 Jan7.52.90.3Open most of the night; closed for a few hours due to high humidity. Photometric with good/average seeing. SPRAT grism deployment problem on one group. Z A T Z
13 Jan1.09.70.0Opened briefly at the start of the night. High humidity, sub-zero temperatures, high winds and high Calima for most of the night! Photometric. Z A T Z
12 Jan0.010.70.0Very high levels of Calima - no observing. - -
11 Jan1.19.60.0High humidity though observed briefly. Non-photometric with bad seeing. Z A T Z
10 Jan0.010.80.0Ice - no observing. - -
9 Jan0.010.80.0Freezing fog - no observing. - -
8 Jan0.010.80.0Freezing fog - no observing. - -
7 Jan0.010.80.0High humidity - no observing. - -
6 Jan10.80.00.0Photometric, average seeing Z A T Z
5 Jan10.10.00.7Photometric, average seeing. SPRAT slit/grism deployment problem. Full Moon. Z A T Z
4 Jan10.80.00.0Photometric with average-to-good seeing Z A T Z
3 Jan6.44.40.0Non-photometric, patches of thick cloud with mainly poor seeing. Z A T Z
2 Jan0.710.10.0Non-photometric. Thick cloud most of night, observed briefly around midnight and before dawn, with average seeing. Z A T Z
1 Jan0.810.10.0Non-photometric. Thick cloud most of night, some observing before dawn with average seeing. Z A T Z