Posted on 09/17/2018 6:46:50 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Sunspot Solar Observatory is transitioning back to regular operations as of September 17th
On September 6th, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) made the decision to temporarily vacate the Sunspot Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico as a precautionary measure while addressing a security issue. The facility closed down in an orderly fashion and is now re-opening. The residents that vacated their homes will be returning to the site, and all employees will return to work this week.
AURA has been cooperating with an on-going law enforcement investigation of criminal activity that occurred at Sacramento Peak. During this time, we became concerned that a suspect in the investigation potentially posed a threat to the safety of local staff and residents. For this reason, AURA temporarily vacated the facility and ceased science activities at this location.
The decision to vacate was based on the logistical challenges associated with protecting personnel at such a remote location, and the need for expeditious response to the potential threat. AURA determined that moving the small number of on-site staff and residents off the mountain was the most prudent and effective action to ensure their safety.
In light of recent developments in the investigation, we have determined there is no risk to staff, and Sunspot Solar Observatory is transitioning back to regular operations as of September 17th. Given the significant amount of publicity the temporary closure has generated, and the consequent expectation of an unusual number of visitors to the site, we are temporarily engaging a security service while the facility returns to a normal working environment.
We recognize that the lack of communications while the facility was vacated was concerning and frustrating for some. However, our desire to provide additional information had to be balanced against the risk that, if spread at the time, the news would alert the suspect and impede the law enforcement investigation. That was a risk we could not take.
About Sunspot Solar Observatory
Since late 2017, the Sunspot Solar Observatory Consortium has run the Sunspot Visitors Center as well as daily research activities for the solar community with the Dunn Solar Telescope, in collaboration with The National Solar Observatory (NSO.) AURA, through NSO, continues to manage the site. There are approximately nine New Mexico State University and AURA staff employed at the observatory.
Sunspot Solar Observatory was established on Sacramento Peak in 1947, and is based in Sunspot, NM, in the United States. Sunspot is an unincorporated community in the Sacramento Mountains in Otero County. Named after the nearby solar observatory, Sunspot is located within the Lincoln National Forest, 18 miles south of Cloudcroft, at an elevation of 9200 feet (2800 m).
NSO operated the Dunn Solar Telescope at the observatory from 1969 to 2017, managed by AURA under an agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF). Beginning in 2016, the New Mexico State University initiated a drive funded by NSF to upgrade and update the Sunspot facility, through a newly-formed Sunspot Solar Observatory Consortium. All observational data is sent to New Mexico State University servers and research from the data is performed nationwide.
The National Solar Observatory (NSO) is the national center for ground-based solar physics in the United States and is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation Division of Astronomical Sciences.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science. NSF supports basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future.
About AURA
The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of 46 US institutions and 4 international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories. AURA’s role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research. In addition, AURA is deeply committed to public and educational outreach, and to diversity throughout the astronomical and scientific workforce. AURA carries out its role through its astronomical facilities.
That’s a really long statement with very little information about the threat that was seemingly taken care of.
If they posted why, it would scare away the fugitive?
So instead they just became the biggest YouTube conspiracy of the month?
Wtf?
Near as I can tell, there is no information in there about the threat.
Maybe they’re still hunting for a suspect.
Was fun while it lasted.
Other theories for the evacuation and shutdown by the FBI:
1) China was using facilities in an antennae array to monitor White Sands Missile Tests.
2) The observatory found an inbound comet, large enough to bring near extinction event.
3) Observatory witnessed UFO phenomenon which was supposed to have been kept secret.
4) Deep State destruction of observation satellites.
5) Convolution of the above to distract from the approaching Nibiru.
<8^0
6) It spotted the Mighty Host in the sun.
What about the post office?
Smokescreen and diversion. They are taking attention away from the alien craft that landed there.
Sounds like a fugitive made his way into the area and was hiding out in the desert, perhaps pilfering supplies from the homes of staff members.
A similar thing happened with Canadian fugitive George Robert Johnston, who hid in the Death Valley region for about a year, stealing from locals and evading capture while covering surprisingly large distances.
Also called the Ballarat Bandit, at least one documentary about his case can be found on YouTube.
“Open zat door, and make me a liar.”
The answer I like better was that something was found on the antenna pointed towards white Sands. OR, that something was going on at White Sands that could be seen from there.
Pure speculation.
I worked at WSMR in the 90’s, they have a telemetry site and frequency monitoring site near the observatory. I visited both sites many times.
Total BS on a couple of levels. One, they can’t provide Logistics to secure the site? This the same FBI that could go out to some duck Refuge and a remote corner of Montana and spend a month or two? Two, they evacuated everyone in a city so as not to alert the suspect? Much simpler to just arrest the suspect. Three, if the story is true now that the suspect is under arrest we should know his name and identity and what he’s charged with, shouldn’t we? They’re up some kind of BS, probably protecting Islam again.
"We had a little bomb scare. Please go back to your business."
If that’s the case why were all the sun cams around the world shut down as well? Why are they still offline?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.