One excuse is about as good as another, but this explanation about the close proximity to a governmental testing facility makes sense. The interesting part in another article was the sudden attention to antennas and transmission towers as well as the post office, all items or places to be used for communication, shut it down so no info can get out. An excerpt of this article attached.
“There was a Blackhawk helicopter, a bunch of people around antennas and work crews on towers, but nobody would tell us anything,” Otero County Sheriff Benny House told the Alamogordo Daily News. “I don’t know why the FBI would get involved so quick and not tell us anything.”
I do know there are some events going on with the Sun right now..
FBI = Counterintelligence.
Wouldn’t be surprised to learn the observatory was used as a listening post by foreign governments, and there was someone at the observatory facilitating that as a spy.
Seems like the most likely scenario.
The first is mysterious but he second is not.
You've no, 'need' to know.