Congratulations to everyone who has received time for the 2015-2 semester.

** As a reminder, the Phase II deadline is 23 October 2015 **


Tips for Creating your Phase II proposal
========================================

Tips for creating your phase II proposal:

When creating your phase II proposal for next semester, there is no need for you to retype all the maximum lunar phases you chose in your phase I proposal. You can instead use version 4.7 of the PIPT to copy the phase values, as described at the bottom of

http://astronomers.salt.ac.za/proposals/tips-and-tricks/

This new version of the PIPT is now available, and can be downloaded from

http://astronomers.salt.ac.za/software/

You don't have to use this version for submitting your proposal. However, if you are planning to use pools in your proposal, you'll at least have to update to version 4.6 of the PIPT.

If you are a Mac user and have upgraded to El Capitan already, you might notice that the PIPT GUI is rather wonky. This seems to be an issue with Java 6, and upgrading to Java 8 should solve the problem.


Fabry-Perot Status
==================

As already communicated to FP users directly, the coatings of the Medium Resolution MR etalon have unfortunately degraded resulting in significant loss of spectral resolution. We have removed it from the telescope and are in the process of determining both costs and timescales for repairs - but we do not expect it will be returned to the telescope for several months.

On the positive side, LR is working well, and the HR etalon has been inserted and we are working to commission the dual etalon HR mode in November. If this effects your program, please contact salthelp@salt.ac.za for more information.


New P4 Policy
=============

There is a new policy on P4 Blocks allowing any accepted program to enter P4 targets to the queue, above their time allocation. These are to be used as filler targets in case we have nothing else available at a given time. If you are unsure what it means, first read the bits about P4 time in the Intro and Section 11.4 of the http://pysalt.salt.ac.za/proposal_calls/current/ProposalCall.html and discuss with your Liaison Astronomer. Note that using optional targets in pools is more useful in general.


Block Probability
=================

Before the 2015-2 Semester starts, there will be a new 'Block Probability' number on the Web Manager attached to each active Phase II block. The intention is to indicate roughly the chances of a block getting done. The number takes into account Moon phase and Seeing constraints, the 'Observability' i.e. how tight the requested track is within its visibility window, and Competition from all other Blocks in that same window taking into account their Priorities. Note that in case of multiple visits the number refers to the binomial probability of finishing *all* the requested visits taking into account the available tracks over the semester.

The system is live, so you can see the effects when e.g. changing seeing and lunar phase constraints. It also means that the numbers before at least the great majority of Phase II blocks are active do not mean much since the competition calculation will be unrealistic.

Disclaimer: This is our first stab at providing this functionality and it may still contain bugs. Please let us know if you think your nubmers are showing anomalous behaviour.

Recent Scientific Papers
========================

The 2015 calendar year will top the number of 31 refereed SALT publications from 2014. While waiting for the final tally, here is a list of SALT papers that have appeared since our last update in July:

* Brosch et al. study an "empty ring galaxy" using RSS/Fabry-Perot observations finding a past merger of disc galaxies and current star formation in a regularly spinning gas ring. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.451.4114B

* Coe & Kirk present a catalogue of Be/X-ray binary systems in the Small Magellanic Cloud including H-alpha measurement using RSS. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.452..969C

* Gvaramadze et al. combine Spitzer Space Telescope and RSS data to characterize the blue Galactic supergiant MN18 and its bipolar circumstellar nebula. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.454..219G

* Hajduk et al. combine X-Shooter spectra with RSS data to conclude that [JD2002]11 is the ninth symbiotic star known in total, and only the 2nd known dusty symbiotic star in the Small Magellanic Cloud. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015AcA....65..139H

* Karachentsev, Kniazev & Sharina present RSS spectroscopy of a globular cluster in the center of the nearby isolated dwarf spheroidal galaxy KKs3. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015AN....336..707K

* Katkov, Kniazev & Sil'chenko show, using RSS spectra of isolated lenticular galaxies, that there is a large range in their formation epochs and that their gas is likely externally accreted by minor mergers. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015AJ....150...24K

* Macfarlane et al. present the overview and first results of the large OmegaWhite survey at ESO/VST for short-period variable stars, including follow-up spectroscopy with SALT/RSS. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.454..507M

* Menzies, Whitelock & Feast study AGB variables in the Local Group galaxy IC 1613 and their RSS spectra demonstrates on-going "hot bottom burning" in an Oxygen-rich Mira variable. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.452..910M

* Silverman et al. include RSS data in their study of high-velocity features of calcium and silicon in a large sample of Type Ia SN spectra. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.451.1973S

* Zinchenko et al. present oxygen abundance distributions in six late-type galaxies based on RSS spectra of regions of ionized hydrogen in these galaxies. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015A%26A...582A..35Z

Too Large A Black Hole in the news
==================================

And in another new publication, Jacco van Loon from Keele University and Anne Sansom from the University of Central Lancashire used SALT to study a significantly over-sized nuclear black hole in a modest-mass early-type galaxy. This result was featured on CNN along with the Espresso morning TV show here in South Africa. For more details, see:
On ADS: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.453.2341V
SALT Press Release: http://www.salt.ac.za/news/too-large-a-black-hole/
CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/26/world/black-hole-is-30-times-expected-size/index.html


Record number of Blocks Observed
================================

We don't know what the final number will be yet, but this semester has seen a record number of blocks observed! Eric Depagne and Thea Koen passed the old record of 798 blocks on 3 October. See how they celebrated the accomplishment of passing 800 observed blocks!
SALT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SATelescope
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SALT_Astro/status/650423292818550786


Laser Frequency Comb at SALT
============================

We have been fortunate to be approached by researchers from the University Heriot-Watt in Edinburgh, the Department of Photonics and Quantum Science, asking SALT to provide an on-sky test for their prototype laser frequency comb. These instruments provide an incredibly precise method to calibrate spectroscopy using tens of thousands of lines with well known wavelengths. Currently, only HARPS at ESO is equipped with such an instrument, and with such a calibrator it regularly delivers precision down to a few cm/s.

The frequency comb is expected to be installed on the telescope for a three month period and provide HRS with a high stability calibration source. It will be installed, commissioned and tested as soon as it arrives in January 2016, and will be available for HRS science during the second quarter of 2016. For more information, and if you have ideas of how to make use of the capability on HRS in this limited time period, please contact us at salthelp@salt.ac.za.


SALT polarimetry update
=======================

The RSS polarimetry beamsplitter was returned to its US manufacturer in 2013 after problems were discovered with leaking coupling fluid. An alternative coupling "gel" was used in the repair and the beamsplitter was successfully re-installed into RSS in June 2015. The recommissioning of the mechanical and electrical mechanisms and control software associated with the polarimetry mode has been ongoing over the past few months. As of October 2015, closed dome re-commissioning tests are almost complete. On-sky commissioning and calibrations are scheduled to begin in October/November 2015. We hope some of the polarimetry modes will be ready to be advertised for the SALT 2016-1 Semester Call, but at this point we are not certain yet. We will keep users informed. For more information about RSS polarimetry, please send any queries to salthelp@salt.ac.za.


RSS Guider
===========

A new RSS guider project is progressing well with proof-of-concept hardware for the motion stage and stand-alone control system on its way and concept designs of all the major components under way. This new two-probe design will be able to deliver rotation guidance (which especially MOS mode users will appreciate) and automatic focus feedback (which the observers will greatly appreciate), while delivering significantly improved performance with much fainter stars, reaching the same V~20 mag in 15 sec sensitivity as the current FIF guider. It is expected to be ready for integration with the telescope towards the end of 2016.


Tracker Upgrade
===============

Last week, the telescope was taken offline for the installation of the new Y-drive motors. The installation went smoothly and the telescope was back online and in operation after only two nights of down time. The final stage of the upgrade is expected to be carried out in April 2016 and will result in a much better performing and capable tracker for the telescope. Congratulations to the TechOps team for successfully carrying out this major milestone!

Darragh O'Donoghue's sudden passing on 25 June 2015 has left a huge hole in of our lives. Darragh was directly responsible for much of the success of SALT and was leading the long term plan for the telescope as well as in the midst of developing new instrumentation for use by the community. More importantly, he was a mentor and friend to many of us. A memorial will be held for Darragh at SAAO on 24 July. For those who cannot attend, written tributes may be email to Lisa Crause at crause [at] saao.ac.za or posted online at http://www.saao.ac.za/tributes-to-darragh/.

Call for Proposals
--------------

We wish to remind all of the Phase-1 deadline for submissions is July 31st, 6pm SAST.

Science Papers
------------

Since the last SALT update in early March, there have been many SALT papers published. The full list is available at http://astronomers.salt.ac.za/data/publications/ As always, please let us know of any that we have missed.

* Czerny et al. discuss the origin of the Broad Line Region and AGN models, and specifically compare the expected line profiles with quasar Mg II line profiles from SALT data.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015AdSpR..55.1806C

* Hajduk, Hoof & Zijlstra study the evolution of H-rich central stars of young planetary nebulae.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015A%26A...573A..65H

* Kirk et al. present SALT multi-object spectroscopic observations of galaxy clusters detected by ACT, and find a type II QSO in a brightest cluster galaxy. The paper is useful reading to anyone planning RSS/MOS observations.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.449.4010K

* Kollatschny et al. study strong magnetic fields near the central black hole in the quasar PG0043+039 using simultaneous multi-wavelength observations with SALT, HET, HST and XMM-Newton.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015A%26A...577L...1K

* Pozo Nunez et al. present results of a monitoring campaign of the Seyfert 1 galaxy PGC 50427 to study its broad-line region and dust torus size.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015A%26A...576A..73P

* Samsom et al. find, using RSS spectroscopy, the low-luminosity, early-type galaxy NGC 59 to be very metal poor constraining the way massive galaxies are built up from such building blocks.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.450.1338S

* Spark & O'Donoghue study the shape of the emitting region on white dwarf surfaces using multiple high time resolution observations of an eclipsing cataclysmic variable OY Car with Salticam.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.449..175S

* Tomov et al. report on RSS long-slit observations of the stellar and the nebular remnants of 22 southern post-novae.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015A%26A...576A.119T

* White et al. study radio-quiet quasars in the VIDEO survey and suggest radio emission is AGN-powered rather than star-formation activity; RSS was used for obtaining redshifts of the targets.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.448.2665W

* Jones et al. used SALT and VLT spectra to check for radial velocity shifts in a pair of planetary nebula.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015arXiv150601563J

* Ilkiewicz et al. analyze multi-epoch observation sof LMC S63, a deeply eclipsing Magellanic symbiotic star.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015arXiv150507740I


SALT Science Conference
--------------------

The SALT Science Conference was a success, featuring many on-going SALT projects and general excitement of recent results. The conference itself was featured well in the South African media, especially the keynote presentation given by the Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor. See the conference web-site http://ssc2015.salt.ac.za/ for science talks given at the conference and the SAAO web-site for a PR summary
http://www.saao.ac.za/press-release/the-salt-science-conference-2015/

Phase 1 Tips and Tricks
-------------------

There will be a number of useful Phase-1 tips posted on the SALT Blog site prior to the proposal deadline. For example, check out this post on general hints on strategy:
http://saltastro.blogspot.com/2015/06/do-you-want-salt-data-salt-science.html


SALT News
---------

Check out our new popular level SALT news pages at http://www.salt.ac.za/news/ The pages are are updated approximately once a month and are maintained by one of the SALT Operators, Thea Koen. If you have are willing to write a short piece for the benefit of all, please contact her at thea_at_salt.ac.za.

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to inform you that we are now accepting SALT Phase 1 proposals for the period 01 Nov. 2015 - 30 April 2016 (2015 Semester 2) The Phase 1 proposal deadline will be 31 July 2015 at 18:00 SAST (corresponding to 16:00 UTC).

Please note that this proposal call is for SALTICAM, BVIT, HRS, and RSS, but with some modes, such as Fabry-Perot HR still on a "best efforts" basis (i.e. no guarantees regarding performance or completion), or not available at all. In particular, we will not accept polarimetric proposals, although it may be possible that we'll reactivate previous polarimetric commissioning proposals later in the semester should this mode becomes available.

Please submit your proposal via the SALT Principal Investigator Proposal Tool (PIPT). Instructions, software, and other information about proposing for SALT can be found on the SALT website.

Call for Proposals, including link to information document:
http://astronomers.salt.ac.za/proposals/

Instructions for submitting your proposal:
http://astronomers.salt.ac.za/proposals/phase-i/

Download the PIPT software:
http://astronomers.salt.ac.za/software/#PIPT

All questions regarding this proposal call should be address to:
salthelp(at)salt.ac.za

Sincerely,
Astronomy Operations

Dear SALT user -

This letter is directed to any PI or co-I who has in the past received data from SALT. We are interested in getting SALT data published, and hence are offering help where possible and where it would be useful. We are also gathering feedback to improve efficiency.


1) If you have published your data, thank you very much. On the other hand, There are a myriad of reasons why observations don't get published. Maybe the data were clearly of inferior quality or not enough for the science purpose. And some project types (e.g. monitoring, student theses) often just take a long time. But if you are in a possession of a reasonably complete data-set and have not yet published it, we would like to know if there is anything we could help you with. This could be in the area of data reductions, calibrations, or perhaps some trivial amount of data or information missing for the set to be useful.

- Please send an email to salthelp with any details you wish to give us. Add the word "help" and a program ID in the subject line for us to keep the requests organized.

- We cannot guarantee results. But we do promise to at least assess the situation with you to see if there is something to be done, and possibly assign one of the SALT Astronomers to work with you.


2) In an effort to make future SALT Astro Ops more effective we would be interested in your frank feedback. What part of the process worked in your opinion, what did not? Were the data acceptable, useful, or not?

- Please send an email to salthelp with the word "feedback" in the subject line and a program id if appropriate.


3) Finally, we wish to advertise the fact that SALT data quality is improving.

- There was a significant increase in RSS throughput recently.
- Stray-light affecting faintest RSS observations have also significantly been reduced.
- The active alignment system for stable PSF (the SAMS) is not on-line yet. However, the central 7 segments already have sensors and are gathering performance data.
- There is a high priority project to implement a new RSS guider to address rotational guiding issues affecting especially MOS observations.
- We are aware that many users are waiting for a HRS reduction pipeline. When ready, we will announce the availability and help PIs to get extracted spectra from both past and on-going HRS data sets.
- We have studied the completion fractions of blocks and programs over the previous semesters and have tips and suggestions on how to maximize your chances of finishing programs. We will include these in the next Call for Proposal in late June.

We do hope that you continue to use SALT for your science and hope that with upcoming improvements we can deliver the kind of quality data originally expected.

-Petri Vaisanen
and the whole SALT Astronomy Operations team.

Dear Colleagues,

This is to inform you that registration for the forthcoming "Science with SALT 2015" conference at the Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Study (STIAS) from 1-5 June is now open.

Please visit the conference website: http://ssc2015.salt.ac.za/

Here you will find more details and the conference registration page. The deadline for registration and submitting an abstract for a talk or poster is 1 April.

We encourage students to attend this meeting and depending on the level of funding we receive, we will waiver or subsidize the R2000 registration fee (which covers all breaks and lunches) and possibly also contribute to accommodation expenses.

We look forward to seeing you in June!

Kind regards,
David Buckley
Eric Wilcots
SOC co-chairs