Foreigners are unfortunately not responsible for the closure of the solar observatory of New Mexico



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Dunn Solar Telescope

Dunn's solar telescope at the solar sunspot observatory.

Amanda Kooser / CNET

After being closed for 10 days after a sudden and unexplained evacuation, the Solar Observatory of sunspots in New Mexico should reopen on Monday.

The observatory on Sacramento Peak, which overlooks the nearby White Sands Missile Range, after the FBI visit earlier this month, was cleared with the local post office and a handful of nearby residences. No explanation of the evacuation was given to the observatory employees or to the local law enforcement agencies.

"The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), which manages the installation, is currently dealing with a security problem," said AURA spokesman Shari Lifson in a statement sent last week.

The FBI has not yet responded to a request for additional information.

The lack of detail has led to a wave of theories of speculation and conspiracy. The Internet was trying to find out if the federal government was trying to hide evidence of strangers or imminent solar flares.

On Sunday, Lifson sent a follow-up version that would seem to rule out such an explanation out of the world.

"AURA has cooperated with an ongoing law enforcement investigation into criminal activities in Sacramento Peak," the statement said. "Meanwhile, we worried that a suspect in the investigation may pose a threat to the safety of local staff and residents … AURA has determined that moving the small number employees and residents on-site was the most cautious and effective measures to ensure their safety. "

The lack of information on the closure of the observatory was necessary for security reasons, according to the statement.

"We recognize that the lack of communication during the vacancy of the facility was worrying and frustrating for some, but our desire to provide additional information had to be weighed against the risk that, if released, would hinder police investigation.This was a risk that we could not take. "

The observatory should open again on Monday. It now has a new security service to handle the unusual number of visitors who have visited the summit and the observatory.


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