The New Mexico observatory was closed for "reopening the security issue"

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – An observatory in the mountains of southern New Mexico, closed since the beginning of September because of an undisclosed security problem, is expected to reopen on Monday, officials said.

The Solar Sunspot Observatory no longer faces a threat to the safety of staff, said Sunday the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. The establishment closed on September 6th.

The association hired a temporary security team to patrol the observatory at reopening. "Given the significant amount of advertising that the temporary closure has generated and the 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, "said the association.

The authorities did not reveal the nature of the security threats facing the observatory. The FBI has referred all questions to the association.

"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, "said the association.

Located atop Sacramento Peak, the observatory was established in 1947.

It overlooks the Tularosa Basin – a desert expanse that includes the city of Alamogordo, Holloman Air Force Base, the White Sands Missile Zone, the White Sands National Monument and the world's first atomic bomb test.

The Sunspot Telescope was originally built by the US Air Force. After several years of operation, it was transferred to the National Solar Observatory, which is part of the National Science Foundation.

In 2016, New Mexico State University launched an initiative funded by the foundation to upgrade and update the facility through the new Sunspot Solar Observatory consortium.

Officials said Sunspot's unique telescope produces some of the clearest images of the sun available in the world. Data from observations made at Sunspot are sent to servers at New Mexico State University and can be used by researchers around the world.