Was it this much, or that much?
Posted on 09/12/2018 9:54:20 PM PDT by House Atreides
UPDATE 9/12/18 4PM PST The issue may be related to Mercury (the metal, not the planet). On a tip from a science journalist friend who covers telescopes and who has been there, I verified the observatory uses a vat of liquid mercury as a float bearing for the giant solar telescope. According to an internal NSO/NMSU document, that bearing is “high-risk” during maintenance. If there was a major mercury spill, it might explain why the Feds are there, with FBI providing security. The amount of Mercury is said to be in the “tens of gallons” range, which is next to impossible to come by in the commercial market these days, and if it were weaponized, it would make a very nasty dirty bomb. Perhaps there’s some security issue with the mercury on-site.
The mysterious and sudden closure of the National Solar Observatory in New Mexico is sending alien hunters into a frenzy as the facility remains shut without explanation. The research institute in Sunspot was evacuated last Thursday along with a nearby United States Postal Service office for unexplained ‘security reasons.’
A spokesperson for the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) which manages the observatory said the evacuation was a precautionary measure due to a security issue. “It was our decision to evacuate the facility,”spokeswoman Shari Lifson added....
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(Excerpt) Read more at wattsupwiththat.com ...
But a little research shows that there are “8 to 10 metric TONS of mercury there. Wow! See the penultimate paragraph in the below linked item.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_B._Dunn_Solar_Telescope
I read the other day when this was first brought up that the location has line-of-site with some classified sites. And hearing that people were climbing up on antenna as and after taking over the place, maybe they are removing monitoring devices. Bet that place is overrun with Chinese spies. Need to start kicking them out of our academic institutions, out of places like this.
This place occupies the high ground about 30 miles from Holloman AFB and White Sands Missile Range.
I imagine the FBI is shutting down the whole area temporarily while some new weapons-technology tests are taking place. It wants to be able to remove any and all potential observers, particularly anyone pretending to be a local “scientist.” By the way, any Chinese post-doctoral researchers happen to be on staff at this Observatory?
Oops I think I sent a private reply.
Let me try that again. I just ran mercury’s weight.
It said approximately 110 pounds / gallon.
So a ton is less than 20 gallons.
Right?
An astute FReeper (CBA123) has pointed out to me that mercury is quite heavy so “tens of gallons” could well equal to 8 to 10 metric tons of the nasty stuff.
Was it this much, or that much?
Yes, around 133 pounds by one estimate per gallon. Rather heavy. Bet it looks cool though. Remember playing with a few drops growing up.
. Bet it looks cool though. Remember playing with a few drops growing up.
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I had about a thimble full and played with it for a while and then it just disappeared. As you know, it would just slide around like water so it was impossible to pick up. I don’t think I should worry about it but can’t help but wonder.
Scuttlebutt: Chinese had tapped into the antennas to use them to monitor tests at the two bases. For what it’s worth.
Could be a bad thing. Could be a good thing. One never knows anymore.
Metallic mercury is a hell of a lot less dangerous than the EPA and the CDC pretend.
I read an article about five years ago that backs up your statement.
A local public works sent a camera down their sewer pipes and found several pools of mercury in the pipes. The amount was "several pounds." No one knew how the mercury got there, but it was mentioned that it was not the dangerous kind, but was being removed via suction.
#13. And Freddy Mecury wasn’t dangerous at all.
If you don’t love “A Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, then you are a worse than a “college snowflake” at a Milo speech.
My recollection is, it could transform the appearance of a Lincoln-head. At least for a while.
I dig & pan for gold as a hobby up at Lynx creek, in Prescott. Have found mercury covered gold and even raw mercury at times... People eat the fish in the lake a mile downstream with no warnings whatsoever.
I played with mercury as a child, even swallowed some, probably a half ounce over the years.
Worked with it by the gallon as an adult in the mining- refining business.
Did get mercury vapor poisoning pretty bad once... Whole body hurt like hell for four days, but didn’t even lose a tooth.
Mercury only becomes a significant health hazard when you ingest mercury compounds, especially the ‘mercury salts’, or eat critters that have ingested them. Even then, it is over hyped you’d have to eat ‘mercurized tuna every day for months to have any significant effects.
Yep.
I’ve been there, done the same thing.
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