The University of Glamorgans Robotic Cyberspace Community Telescope Observatory
(RoCCoTo), currently being constructed near Pontypridd, in the South Wales valleys, is due to
come online. Integrated into the National Schools Observatory (NSO) and the Faulkes
Telescopes (FT), the 16" robotic Meade will be accessible via the Internet using the
university's website, making available a wide database of images and enabling schools,
community education groups and the public to access a professional telescope facility.

Using equipment supplied by SCS Astro Ltd the telescope comprises a Meade 16" SCT
Optical Tube Assembly, attached to a Software Bisque Paramount GT-1100S Robotic Mount.
Imaging is carried out using an SBIG ST7 CCD Camera.

Latest news on the RoCCoTO telescope project 8th November 2001.

The University of Glamorgan's RoCCoTO observatory is beginning to take shape!

* The 4.5 metre dome that was constructed in Australia and then shipped out to us in South
Wales, was hoisted to the top of the University's tallest building (G Block) on 21st October, in
a two hour operation that went very smoothly. See the pictures at
http://www.glam.ac.uk/roccoto

* Over the next few weeks, the dome housing and support structure including its electrics will
be installed and tested to ensure RoCCoTO will be one of the most modern observatories in
the UK.

* The telescope, pier, cameras and other accessories, including the robotic mount, have all
arrived on site and are awaiting the final weatherproofing of the dome before assembly.

* The RoCCoTO operations room underneath the dome is nearing completion and the
computer and software necessary for operation is now being installed and tested.

The dome is now one of the most visible features of the University of Glamorgan's campus and
is highly visible from the A470, the main road through the valleys which carries over 100,000
vehicles a day. This addition to the landscape is creating more interest and a widening
appreciation of what the University is achieving with this revolutionary project.

The RoCCoTO Web site has had thousands of hits since the BBC covered the project in an
online report. The enthusiasm for the project and its potential use for amateur astronomers is
a reflection of the public's thirst for knowledge, and is an indicator of the high profile of
astronomy. Read the BBC's report at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/wales/newsid_1612000/1612268.stm

Currently, over 170 students study astronomy at Glamorgan, including many in community
outreach programmes. The success of this course boosts confidence that RoCCoTO will
become a prime educational resource, and continue to be a valuable addition to science
teaching in schools over the first decades of the new millennium. Find out more about
Glamorgan's Astronomy courses at http://www.glam.ac.uk/roccoto/courses.php

Be sure to visit the Web site to find out more about the RoCCoTO project and the people
behind it at http://www.glam.ac.uk/roccoto

All the best from the RoCCoTO team at the University of Glamorgan”.

The Astronomy Shop

1 Tone Hill. Wellington

Somerset TA21 0AU

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)1823 665510