[ad_1]
Aerial view of the site of the Sunspot Solar Observatory on the Sacramento Peak in New Mexico. Sunspot is part of the National Solar Observatory, funded by the US National Science Foundation.
Credit: National Solar Observatory / NSF
It's been over a week, and an installation of the National Solar Observatory (NSO) in New Mexico is still closed for an undisclosed "security problem".
According to the Albuquerque Journal, the Sunspot Solar Observatory, located on the southern Sacramento Peak, was evacuated on Thursday, Sept. 6. FBI agents reportedly investigated the site, apparently keeping local law enforcement forces in the dark.
The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), which runs the Sunspot Observatory with funding from the US National Science Foundation, also did not say much. The organization issued a statement saying that AURA "is addressing a security issue" at Sunspot "and has decided to temporarily vacate the facility as a precaution until further notice." AURA "is working with the relevant authorities on this issue," the statement adds, without specifying who these authorities are.
And we might not get answers in the near future. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon. EDT (18:00 GMT) today (14 September), AURA Communications Coordinator Shari Lifson has sent an e-mail update stating that the observatory will remain closed until further notice .
Not surprisingly, the lack of information has sparked a lot of speculation about what is happening. Rumors range from stupidity (the authorities close the sunspot to prevent news on a lethal solar superglove from getting into our heads of panic) to the incredibly credible (it can act from there. an espionage investigation).
The members of the observatory team have however abolished one of the most drawn out theories. "The telescope did not see strangers," said James McAteer, director of Sunspot's solar observatory, professor of astronomy, solar physics and space weather at New Mexico State University. , at the KOB4 television station in Albuquerque.
"All data will be made public in their unchanged form," McAteer added. "Nothing is hidden or kept secret."
The FBI had not yet responded to a phone call. The agency has consistently declined to comment on the sunspot situation last week, according to other news agencies.
This story was updated at 2:30 pm EDT will include the latest update of comments from Shari Lifson and James McAteer.
Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @ michaeldwall and Google+. follow us @ Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
[ad_2]
Source link
