Statement about closure of solar observatory
AURA, the university consortium that operates the closed Sunspot Solar Observatory in New Mexico, issued a statement today about that closure.
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.
This news release, while still very vague about the criminal investigation, implies that there was a dangerous criminal suspect on the mountain that federal officials were pursuing, and they evacuated to protect their employees.
This explanation still leaves serious questions. Why for example were local police kept in the dark about this investigation? It makes no sense not to include them, unless they might be a target of the investigation, something that in this case does not appear to be true.
Also, if there was a criminal on the mountain, secrecy is not really an effective way to catch him. It might make sense, but they have not provided us any information that would explain this.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
AURA, the university consortium that operates the closed Sunspot Solar Observatory in New Mexico, issued a statement today about that closure.
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.
This news release, while still very vague about the criminal investigation, implies that there was a dangerous criminal suspect on the mountain that federal officials were pursuing, and they evacuated to protect their employees.
This explanation still leaves serious questions. Why for example were local police kept in the dark about this investigation? It makes no sense not to include them, unless they might be a target of the investigation, something that in this case does not appear to be true.
Also, if there was a criminal on the mountain, secrecy is not really an effective way to catch him. It might make sense, but they have not provided us any information that would explain this.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Being an observatory, I couldn’t help but wonder if someone got some ideas from the antics done in Hawaii. Does anyone know why someone might not like the existence of an observatory in the Sacramento Mountains in New Mexico?
Do we know if the Post Office is now open?
“…an on-going law enforcement investigation of criminal activity that occurred…”
To me, that means, a personal problem involving one of our personnel, i.e. stalker-behavior, that may or may not have involved the postal system.
Jason–
I guess we can’t discount ecoterrorism in the mix.
Honestly my first thought with all of the secrecy involved as well as the fbi, was chinese or russian hacking into the systems.
Wayne’s comment reminds me of the incident at the McDonald observatory where an employment shot at his supervisor and then shot up the primary mirror of the telescope. Details are here
https://astroanecdotes.com/2015/03/26/the-mcdonald-gun-shooting-incident/amp/
I’d have far more confidence having Larry , Moe , and Curly looking into this VS anything done by the FBI. Ill never trust the FBI on anything , ever. They will forever reek of corruption. They need to be disbanded.
So it might’ve been a murderer hiding in a desolate place, where there happens to be a Solar observatory.
Here is a plausible explanation from The War Zone: Espionage.
The observatory overlooks a military technology testing facility.
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/23582/mysterious-evacuation-of-solar-observatory-overlooking-white-sands-smells-like-espionage
Localfluff—
that’s a fair interpretation.
Jason– recall the female astronaut that lost her mind and went on a stalking-spree?
Orion314-
No doubt.
If the FBI told me the sky was blue, I’d wonder what lie they were perpetrating.
Richard Kimble could have been working as a handyman at the Observatory. (But that still doesn’t explain the post office…)
The Fugitive 1963
https://youtu.be/S5YAg-oVpE0
3:43
Mike–
a fair interpretation.
Too much exclusive Federal involvement, and nebulous official-statements.
(One thing I’m sure of– if it was a Trump supporter, they wouldn’t shut up about it, so we can’t discount terrorism, stalking/love triangle gone wrong aimed at Staff, chi-com and/or islamic jihad infiltration.
Lisa Nowak
This sounds more and more like the beginning to an alien invasion…
Jason–never underestimate the ability of people to get themselves involved in bizzaro-world Adventures.
that being said…..
Star Trek ENT:
Xindi Destruction of Earth
https://youtu.be/3KgW8lSu2Sg
1:01
This whole thing couldn’t have been handled worse from a PR stand[point. By now, whenever the Feds and Observatory tell us the truth about what happened, there will be a large segment of America that won’t believe them. I think we’ll see the first books telling us the “truth” about the incident within a year (a large segment of the publishing industry is totally shameless – look at all the “New Age” , “Ancient Aliens”, “Chariots of the Gods”, Roswell, etc crap overflowing the bookshelves, then look for the solitary shelf or two reporting genuine science)
The one juicy rumor involves espionage saying, plausibly, that the facilities offer a prime observation post for electronic observation of White Sands and Holloman AFB. It’s certainly believable that some researcher or technician could have installed things on an existing mast or other structure that would be simply lost among the other items.
A good rumor and one that would make a fine spy thriller.
Jason – the Invasion has been completed ….. Ack …ACK ack ack !
Now for some good old Country singing …. oh, and Tom Jones as well
love it.
My evolving espionage theory regarding Sunspot is here: http://theradioboard.com/rb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8362
Possible vague terrorism threat?
With that amount of mercury on hand and the regional hydrology? An ecological disaster?
Bob – you know your Geo – impact of many gallons of mercury into surface and sub-ground waters? Long term latency?
Would this bring in the FBI?
Maybe – maybe not – any sign of EPA about?
Hondo —
I’m putting mercury low on the list.
“4 Gallon Mercury Spill closes Mail Processing Center – TX”
8-13-8
https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/08/13/coppell-mail-processing-plant-mercury-spill/
Maybe someone was growing weed or cooking meth on the campus.
“so we can’t discount terrorism, stalking/love triangle gone wrong aimed at Staff, chi-com and/or islamic jihad infiltration.”
It could even be ALL of them at the same time! What if it was a lovesick islamic jihadi infiltrating Chi-com who was stalking somebody with terrorist intent? Sounds plausible.
OM: Heh. You left out the FBI.
OM:
HAR.
(I could tell you some stories. Folks get embroiled in all sorts of intricate inter-personal Adventures.)
‘Chinese deep-cover Grad-student spy, embroiled with whacky microbiologist Islamic jihadi girlfriend, who in turn is spurned in favor of the FBI confidential Astronomy grad-student informant, sent in to investigate Mercury thefts at the Observatory, and mails anthrax to everyone in a fit of rage.’
(it’s always a Mole hunt.)
>see “Lisa Nowak” {first, sadly, she lost her mind, then she eventually lost her right to vote & own a gun. }
It’s the Post Office connection, if there is one, that befuddles me.