I wonder what the heck is going on here? Evacuated, FBI on the scene and local police/authorities being kept in the dark on what's going on.
I just watched the movie Signs last night for the first time. I wonder if I need to put on the protective helmet from that movie? :biglaugh:
Closure of NM solar observatory a mystery
https://www.abqjournal.com/1219922/nm-solar-observatory-closed-authorities-mum.html
The truth is out there – but nobody will go on the record about it.
Rumors are swirling and authorities are tight-lipped following the evacuation of an observatory in southwest New
Mexico last week.
The National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, near Alamogordo, was evacuated last Thursday, along with a nearby
post office, and has remained closed since without explanation.
According to the facility’s website, the observatory and surrounding area are closed until further notice “due to
unforeseen circumstances.”
“The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy is addressing a security issue … and has decided to
temporarily vacate the facility as a precautionary measure,” AURA spokeswoman Shari Lifson said in a statement.
“We have no further comment at this time.”
In the Lincoln National Forest, the observatory has been involved in solar research since 1947. Since the closure,
the news has spread nationwide with headlines like “I’m Definitely Not Saying It’s Aliens,” and lighting up internet
message boards with fervor and speculation.
Lifson said AURA is working with the proper authorities, but would not name them.
The closure even caught Otero County Sheriff Benny House by surprise.
“Some folks that work at the laboratory called us, asked us if we could send a deputy to stand by while they were
evacuating,” House said during a phone interview Wednesday. “All the employees were packing up and leaving.”
House said they didn’t get any more answers at the observatory, but staff members told deputies the FBI had been
there.
“Nobody would give us any information on what was going on,” House said, before the phone call cut out and
repeated attempts to reach him again were unsuccessful.
FBI spokesman Frank Fisher would not confirm or deny the agency’s involvement but referred all questions to
AURA.
U.S. Postal Service spokesman Rod Spurgeon called the situation “strange” after authorities walked into the nearby
post office without warning and told the clerk to evacuate.
“I wasn’t present … so I’m not sure which law enforcement agency told us to evacuate,” Spurgeon said.
He said no timeline was given on when the office would be able to reopen.
Spurgeon said he is waiting on a call, but doesn’t know from whom as he has not heard from any authorities or
agency.
“It’s shrouded in mystery,” he said.
An employee at the nearby Apache Point Observatory said they are also in the dark.
“We know about as little as anybody,” the employee said.
The employee said people in the area have seen unknown authorities hovering in helicopters and driving up in
vehicles.
“Nobody would know who they are – you stop them and they won’t tell you anyway,” he said.
The employee said there is not enough information to “worry about it,” but the mystery continues to deepen among
locals.
“That’s what happens when you do something and don’t tell anybody why,” he said.
I just watched the movie Signs last night for the first time. I wonder if I need to put on the protective helmet from that movie? :biglaugh:
Closure of NM solar observatory a mystery
https://www.abqjournal.com/1219922/nm-solar-observatory-closed-authorities-mum.html
The truth is out there – but nobody will go on the record about it.
Rumors are swirling and authorities are tight-lipped following the evacuation of an observatory in southwest New
Mexico last week.
The National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, near Alamogordo, was evacuated last Thursday, along with a nearby
post office, and has remained closed since without explanation.
According to the facility’s website, the observatory and surrounding area are closed until further notice “due to
unforeseen circumstances.”
“The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy is addressing a security issue … and has decided to
temporarily vacate the facility as a precautionary measure,” AURA spokeswoman Shari Lifson said in a statement.
“We have no further comment at this time.”
In the Lincoln National Forest, the observatory has been involved in solar research since 1947. Since the closure,
the news has spread nationwide with headlines like “I’m Definitely Not Saying It’s Aliens,” and lighting up internet
message boards with fervor and speculation.
Lifson said AURA is working with the proper authorities, but would not name them.
The closure even caught Otero County Sheriff Benny House by surprise.
“Some folks that work at the laboratory called us, asked us if we could send a deputy to stand by while they were
evacuating,” House said during a phone interview Wednesday. “All the employees were packing up and leaving.”
House said they didn’t get any more answers at the observatory, but staff members told deputies the FBI had been
there.
“Nobody would give us any information on what was going on,” House said, before the phone call cut out and
repeated attempts to reach him again were unsuccessful.
FBI spokesman Frank Fisher would not confirm or deny the agency’s involvement but referred all questions to
AURA.
U.S. Postal Service spokesman Rod Spurgeon called the situation “strange” after authorities walked into the nearby
post office without warning and told the clerk to evacuate.
“I wasn’t present … so I’m not sure which law enforcement agency told us to evacuate,” Spurgeon said.
He said no timeline was given on when the office would be able to reopen.
Spurgeon said he is waiting on a call, but doesn’t know from whom as he has not heard from any authorities or
agency.
“It’s shrouded in mystery,” he said.
An employee at the nearby Apache Point Observatory said they are also in the dark.
“We know about as little as anybody,” the employee said.
The employee said people in the area have seen unknown authorities hovering in helicopters and driving up in
vehicles.
“Nobody would know who they are – you stop them and they won’t tell you anyway,” he said.
The employee said there is not enough information to “worry about it,” but the mystery continues to deepen among
locals.
“That’s what happens when you do something and don’t tell anybody why,” he said.
