UNEX Solar Observatory in Sunspot New Mexico is Evacuated ..

[kemosabe]

Solar Observatory in Sunspot New Mexico is Evacuated .. FBI Involved


National Solar Observatory, USPS office in Sunspot, NM evacuated for "safety reasons"


By: Mauricio Casillas
Posted: Sep 07, 2018 05:29 PM MDT

Updated: Sep 07, 2018 10:27 PM MDT



SUNSPOT, New Mexico - The National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico, and a nearby United States Postal Service office, were evacuated for security reasons Thursday, observatory officials said.

"We have decided to temporarily vacate this facility as a precautionary measure. And we're working with the proper authorities on this issue," Association for Universities for Research in Astronomy spokeswoman Sheri Lofson said.

Friday, both properties remained closed to the public, with yellow caution tape around the property.

Sunspot is located in the Sacramento Mountains in Otero County about 15 miles south of Cloudcroft. There is currently a working telescope at the observatory, where New Mexico State University also conducts research.

"As locals I feel that we should know what's going on around us," Cloudcroft resident Roger Wiley said.

A spokesman for the Otero County Sheriff's Office said they are not involved in the investigation.

A post office in the area has also been shut down.

"Right now, what we're told is that they've temporarily evacuated the area. We haven't been told why or when that expires," said Rod Spurgeon, a spokesman with the USPS.



.
.
.


Here is an Instagram account from someone who lives in the area:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bncs5O9HGRG/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=e4005iixfp6y



"Yesterday afternoon, this observatory high up in the mountains near where I live was evacuated by the FBI. The local sheriff's department was called in to assist them but the FBI would not tell them what it was they were looking for. The county sheriff said he saw black helicopters and other strange sights, which, coupled with the extreme secrecy and the proximity to an Air Force base, lends people to think that it might be...aliens? I drove up there today and it was quiet as a tomb. Still no word what is really going on, as practically the only thing officials will say is "No comment."





Something strange is going on , I brought this here because we have one hell of a group think-tank that can investigate, sleuth and dig...

 

[Dozdoats]

Sounds like some kind of .mil/specops training exercise for an op in the high desert somewhere.

Especially if they said "No comment" with a half grin.

 

[NoMoreLibs]

I'm not saying it was aliens.....

 

[Bardou]

That happened 9/7 and no one knows why and nothing more has been said.

Otero County Sheriff Benny House said the Otero County Sheriff’s Office was asked to standby.

“The FBI is refusing to tell us what’s going on,” House said. “We’ve got people up there (at Sunspot) that requested us to standby while they evacuate it. Nobody would really elaborate on any of the circumstances as to why. The FBI were up there. What their purpose was nobody will say.”

He said he has a lot of unanswered question about what occurred at Sunspot.

“But for the FBI to get involved that quick and be so secretive about it, there was a lot of stuff going on up there,” House said. “There was a Blackhawk helicopter, a bunch of people around antennas and work crews on towers but nobody would tell us anything.”

The Daily News contacted the Albuquerque FBI spokesman seeking comment for this story, but telephone calls and messages were never returned.

House said he pulled his deputies from the facility after there was no identifiable threat.

“They wanted us up there to help evacuate but nobody would tell us anything,” he said. “We went up there and everything was good. There was no threat. Nobody would identify any specific threat. We hung out for a little while then we left. No reason for us to be there. Nobody would tell us what we’re supposed to be watching out for.”

House said he doesn’t understand why Sunspot didn’t call or notify them of the situation.

“They’re not federal employees,” he said. “It maybe somebody who threatened one of their workers. If that’s the case, why didn’t call us and let us deal with it. These guys are regular workers that work for this company. I don’t know why the FBI would get involved so quick and not tell us anything.”

https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/9e6lha/sunspot_observatory_in_new_mexico_evacuated/

More at the link above - basically comments

 

[Macgyver]

Yes let's go all ET conspiracy even though there are hundreds of other observatories.
Or at least that's what I'm reading everywhere else.

 

[Macgyver]

And this belongs to a college as well it's not .gov run which makes it even weirder.

 

[Profit of Doom]

The portal has opened but nothing has come thru yet.

 

[Babs]

Perhaps they don't want for us to know about the comet/asteroid that is headed toward earth?

 

[Bubble Head]

I'm not saying it was aliens.....

It's aliens hiding inside an asteroid. Sneaky little suckers.

 

[Babs]

It's aliens hiding inside an asteroid. Sneaky little suckers.

 

[kemosabe]

I wonder if this situation in Sunspot, NM has something to do with something that could be seen from there....I mean what are the chances that a huge meteor/object just happens to be doing a fly-by between the earth and the moon ...and then this?
Why the black helicopters, fbi involvement, MANDATORY EVACUATIONS of the whole area and little town... and under such secretive circumstances where the sheriff isnt even told? Not to mention the local sheriff/law enforcement not even being told one iota of what was going on .. I mean if it wasnt something totally "out there" or a matter of major national security , I dont know why of all people the sheriff wouldnt have been in the loop at least somewhat to what was going on to the reason why his small town had to be evacuated.. I guess he was visibly agitated at being clueless to everything... I'm beginning to think they (as in the clearanced people in the observatory) saw something up there or something ..

I would think if it was something in the skies, that other observation sites would have similar going on... What is so special about THIS particular observatory??
I think THAT is where we need to start digging if you ask me..
I read someone make a comment on another forum that was talking about this, that there is alot of Mercury stored there... For what reason ? I don't know..


Here is more info in regards to that place..



It seems strange that NEXT month in its long history it is being closed down as an official place unlike before, and then changed to just a edu for foundation minimal staff basis as new facilities are opened?

So the place is due to be handed over to New Mexico State University in a consortium in October 2018 NEXT MONTH, it has been scheduled for closure and a hand over from the current official team for years.

http://astronomy.nmsu.edu/observatories/sunspot-solar-observatory/



A long paper on whats happening from an official entity to Edu research tool here

Proposed Changes to Sacramento Peak Observatory Operations:
Historic Properties Assessment of Effects
Prepared for National Science Foundation
October 2017
PDF file
https://www.nsf.gov/mps/ast/env_impact_reviews/sacpeak/section106/Historic_Properties_Assessment_of_Effects_Report.pdf


From what I have been reading in my digging is that there's 10 tons of Liquid Mercury at the bottom of it a couple of hundred feet below the ground...

Things that make you go hmmmmmm

But yea I think we need to dig on what sets THIS particular observatory apart from all others... What is so special about this place? Be a good place to start ..

 

[kemosabe]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Solar_Observatory


The National Solar Observatory (NSO) is a United States public research institute to advance the knowledge of the physics of the Sun. NSO studies the Sun both as an astronomical object and as the dominant external influence on Earth. NSO is headquartered in Boulder and operated facilities at two locations, at Sacramento Peak near Sunspot in New Mexico, and at Kitt Peak in Arizona until the end of fiscal year 2017. The institute is constructing the 4-meter Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in the Haleakala Observatory on the island of Maui.

NSO provides its observations to the scientific community. It operates facilities, develops advanced instrumentation both in-house and through partnerships, conducts solar research, and carries out educational and public outreach.



Sunspot Solar Observatory

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunspot_Solar_Observatory

By Alamo NM - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70982692


The Sunspot Solar Observatory is located in Sunspot, New Mexico and is part of the Lincoln National Forest on the western edge of the Sacramento Mountains. The ~250 acres (100 ha) area is located on National Forest Service lands, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Lincoln National Forest, and the Sacramento Ranger District. Established by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) via a Memorandum of Agreement with the USFS in 1950, the facility was transferred to NSF in 1976. NSF and the USFS executed a land use agreement (1980) to formalize this transfer and the continued use of the land for the NSO. It was later known as the Sacramento Peak Observatory, and as one site of the National Solar Observatory (NSO). In 2018, the scientific research and public outreach at the Observatory was taken over by New Mexico State University. The grounds of the observatory are open to the public all year round.

 

[Rucus Sunday]

Why is Every. Single. Thing. that the government does Always. A. Secret? It's like there are two different worlds. Ours, which is inhabited by ignorants who can't be trusted to do anything on their own behalf. And theirs. Move along, nothing to see here gets old after a while. If there's nothing to see, why are YOU here?

 

[kemosabe]

I just went to their official website and it says this..

"SUNSPOT SOLAR OBSERVATORY TEMPORARILY CLOSED
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, however, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Sunspot Solar Observatory, including the site, is temporarily closed, until further notice. Thank you for your understanding - The Sunspot Team"

https://sunspot.solar/




Strange..... "unforseen circumstances" ? hmm

 

[kemosabe]

Their facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/SunspotSolarObs


Some interesting comments there .. Others are having their spidey senses tingling as well , from some of comments I am reading..


Strange post 6 hours ago from whoever is running the page

Here is the FB post on their page..

Sunspot apologizes for the continued closure of the facilities. Listed below is the latest statement from AURA. As we receive new information we will share with you.

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is addressing a security issue at the National Solar Observatory facility at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico and has decided to temporarily vacate the facility as a precautionary measure. AURA, which manages Sacramento Peak with funding from NSF, is working with the proper authorities on this issue. We have no further comment at this time.


.
What sort of "security issue" would cause such secretive measures to where the sheriff doesnt even know whats going on? Yea working with "proper authorities" as in the 3 letter agency and military from what I have read thus far with black helicopters, men climbing the tower and scouring the site yea... doesnt pass the smell test...... "Proper authorities" but not the local authorities.. as NO ONE seems to have a clue to what's up.


And mandatory evacuation of the entire site and tiny town of people that it is in?
.
Wonder if it has to do with that 10 tons of Mercury underground at the site that I mentioned in a previous post...?

Side note .. New Mexico is a state that has a massive amount of underground facilities in it and lots of military testing from what I have been reading...

.

 

[intothatgoodnight]

. . . perhaps it is who/what is underground, that matters to the Feds . . .


intothegoodnight

 

[kemosabe]

. . . perhaps it is who/what is underground, that matters to the Feds . . .


intothegoodnight

What I am thinking as well


From another site and poster:


Does anyone else find her statement awkward?

“I am actually not sure (when the facility was vacated) but it will stay vacated until further notice,” Lifson said. “It’s the people that vacated. At this time, it’s the facility that’s closed.”

Also, read the reviews of this place. Seems employees are “totally disinterested” in visitors with some remaining “completely silent” during a museum visit.

Just weird.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g47221-Activities-Sunspot_New_Mexico.html

 

[Melodi]

My mind didn't Spring to Aliens but first to "what did they discover" or "what nut case attacks a solar observatory?"

After reading this entire thread, I am thinking it could still be some version of number one and/or what is going on underground?

I mean it is remotely possible that some "Climate Change Nut" of any variety didn't like the lack of sunspots being reported or the aliens could have made contact with a local scientist or three.

But it is most likely either they found something they "shouldn't have" or something is "going on" like the Mercury pool or an underground base that has the government so concerned they are risking this one.

Obviously, the scientists have either been scared off and/or paid off not to talk about it; the "silence" during the last few public tours speaks volumes on its own.

This one is worth watching, though I'd expect a "shutdown to a reprioritization of University Funds" or somesuch non-explanation if it closes permanently.

In my mind a solar minimum is NOT when you want to stop watching the sun; you may not have many sun spots to look at but it has been more than 100 since science has had a chance to view this situation and back in the 19th century a lot of modern techniques for study simply didn't exist.

 

[kemosabe]

Something is DEFINITELY is up ....



Found this posted on another site in regards to all of this...
This is what was posted..




"OK.....I just went for the gusto. I called the news station KVIA News 7 which is the outlet that first reported this story and they were more than willing to speak to me as a writer for Science Monthly Online.

The first guy I spoke with gave me the name of the reporter handling the story. His name is Maricio Castiles and he agreed to speak with me right then!

He told me that he has been up there every day since the helicopters and FBI were spotted. At present, the whole area is cordoned off and no one is allowed anywhere near the place. FBI vehicles are blocking all entry points to the observatory itself and according to a source of his, no one is allowed to speak to the press.

He seemed very perturbed by the notion that something was happening in his jurisdiction and he could get no answers. I asked him if any residents had been evacuated and he told me that only select ones were but had no other information on who specifically. I then asked if the residents were just civilians or people that worked at the observatory and again, he had no information on that.

I asked him if the FBI gave him any information as to what was happening and he said that he has called the FBI multiple times and they always refer him to the University with questions. When he calls the University to inquire about what is happening, they refer him back to the FBI. He flatly said that this is highly unusual and that he has never been stonewalled like this.

I asked him about the Sheriffs office and if they knew what was going on. He told me that he has spoken to the Sheriff multiple times and that the Sheriffs assures him that the FBI will not tell him anything either.

Mr. Castiles also told me that he has a friend with another station out of Albuquerque, NM that has come to Sunspot to inquire and that he has received calls from all the major networks seeking information. So it appears that people are starting to notice the happenings at Sunspot.

At the end of the conversation, he told me what followed was off the record and I agreed. He said that a source within the FBI told him that early this week there will be a press conference from....someone, regarding what's happening. I pressed him a bit as to whether this would be just some local press conference or a far larger one, he said only that it would be bigger than just local but that was all the information he had.

The best part is that he told me that I could call him back tomorrow and perhaps he would have more information. Got his number right to his desk to bypass the gate-keeper.

I ended the conversation by asking for his assurance that he would be on top of this story and he replied that there was no way he would stop until he got the answers. He seemed like a very good reporter to me and never once did he try to get me off the phone. In fact, he seemed glad that other people were interested. I told him that there were many people interested and thanked him for his diligence.

I will certainly call him tomorrow if there's no press conference and then post everything here"

 

[tanstaafl]

I read someone make a comment on another forum that was talking about this, that there is alot of Mercury stored there... For what reason ? I don't know..
...
From what I have been reading in my digging is that there's 10 tons of Liquid Mercury at the bottom of it a couple of hundred feet below the ground...

Things that make you go hmmmmmm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_mirror_telescope

Liquid mirror telescopes are telescopes with mirrors made with a reflective liquid. The most common liquid used is mercury, but other liquids will work as well (for example, low melting alloys of gallium). The liquid and its container are rotated at a constant speed around a vertical axis, which causes the surface of the liquid to assume a paraboloidal shape, suitable for use as the primary mirror of a reflecting telescope. The rotating liquid assumes the paraboloidal shape regardless of the container's shape. To reduce the amount of liquid metal needed, and thus weight, a rotating mercury mirror uses a container that is as close to the necessary parabolic shape as possible. Liquid mirrors can be a low cost alternative to conventional large telescopes. Compared to a solid glass mirror that must be cast, ground, and polished, a rotating liquid metal mirror is much less expensive to manufacture.

 

[Catnip]

I just went to their official website and it says this..

"SUNSPOT SOLAR OBSERVATORY TEMPORARILY CLOSED
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, however, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Sunspot Solar Observatory, including the site, is temporarily closed, until further notice. Thank you for your understanding - The Sunspot Team"

https://sunspot.solar/




Strange..... "unforseen circumstances" ? hmm

Which probably means they've spotted Nibiru and it has scared the pants off of them.

 

[JF&P]

I hope someone is going to follow up on this....FBI?....Hmmmm

 

[Dobbin]

It's aliens hiding inside an asteroid. Sneaky little suckers.

Trojan asteroid?

I can identify with that.

Dobbin
One hoof on the ground one eye on the sky

 

[Faroe]

I don't think there is any woo on this.
I know a woman who works at Apache Pt. Observatory, nearby. She mentioned they were shutting down for changing out the lenses. As I understand it, APO is still running as normal.

 

[Mongo]

Shutting it down, keeping it isolated- without help from Sherriff - will use a lot of resources.
Why...

 

[desertvet2]

Mmmmhhhhmmmm...........

 

[Doc1]

I don't think there is any woo on this.
I know a woman who works at Apache Pt. Observatory, nearby. She mentioned they were shutting down for changing out the lenses. As I understand it, APO is still running as normal.

I can hardly imagine routine maintenance (such as changing lenses) would call for evacuations, a news blackout, a jurisdictional pissing contest between the feds and the sheriff and FBI involvement. I have no clue as to what's actually going on there, but it fails the 'routine activities' smell test by a very wide margin. As a side note, I will point out that liquid Mercury isn't especially dangerous. The real danger of Mercury is in its compounds and salts, which can be much deadlier than the liquid metal. If the observatory's telescope has a liquid Mercury leak, that would call for a hazmat team, not the FBI.

Best regards
Doc

 

[Melodi]

Thanks, Doc1 that was sort of my impression as well and of course, there will be an attempt at some normal explanation and that will probably work if things go back to normal, but the FBI vs. local law enforcement and evacuation doesn't pass the smell test for just routine maintenance even if some gets done during the shut down which it probably will.

 

[greysage]

Add this story or event to 'what the f*** is going on in New Mexico?' Another mixed up situation with the Fed and Local law enforcement that doesn't seem to make any sense.

 

[L.A.B.]

Delete...

Just another strange story,

And one more opinion is unnecessary.

 

[Faroe]

I can hardly imagine routine maintenance (such as changing lenses) would call for evacuations, a news blackout, a jurisdictional pissing contest between the feds and the sheriff and FBI involvement. I have no clue as to what's actually going on there, but it fails the 'routine activities' smell test by a very wide margin. As a side note, I will point out that liquid Mercury isn't especially dangerous. The real danger of Mercury is in its compounds and salts, which can be much deadlier than the liquid metal. If the observatory's telescope has a liquid Mercury leak, that would call for a hazmat team, not the FBI.

Best regards
Doc

Honestly, I'm very skeptical of that second story. Personally, it just strikes me that someone is blowing things out of proportion. Maybe some jihadis or pot growing criminals are hiding out in the area - simply speculation.

Because of the area's population growth, out a far as El Paso, light pollution at the sites has become a big deal. the place still attracts scientists, but I expect there are better locations to view any aberrations in the night sky.

There's woo, and there's woo. IIRC, Sun Spot has closed before to take out the lenses. The tech and enormous telescopes are interesting, but the public face of it at least, is all straight forward academic science. I don't think the scientists up there would recognize an ET if a group of them came in on a tour, and sat down in the front row of the lecture hall.

If I hear anything else, I'll let you guys know.

 

[poppy]

I'd rule out anything in the sky. Other observatories would see it too and I doubt anyone in a post office would be looking. Sounds more like the FBI got wind of some sort of threat against that particular facility. However, if that is the case, I would think the FBI would let the Sheriff in on it so his deputies could keep their eyes open for suspicious activity in the area too.

 

[Melodi]

I agree it could be something like an illegal drug factory next door or another Jihadi camp but I think it is something, even if the explanation isn't woo.

 

[Freeholder]

I wonder if an employee or employees were using the facility for something illegal? Agree that something in the sky seems really unlikely, since there are plenty of other observatories that would spot whatever it was.

Kathleen

 

[poppy]

I wonder if an employee or employees were using the facility for something illegal? Agree that something in the sky seems really unlikely, since there are plenty of other observatories that would spot whatever it was.

Kathleen

That could well be. It could also be an employee has been posting things on the social media that sound weird and possibly threatening.

 

[Cyclonemom]

Changing of lenses would NOT be FBI.
Mercury spill/contamination would NOT be FBI.
Aliens would NOT be FBI.
An actual "find in the sky" would not be limited to 1 observatory.

FBI, according to https://www.fbi.gov/investigate, has jurisdiction over violent crimes, cybercrime, white collar crime, organized crime, civil rights, WMD's (in the country), and counterintelligence.

ETA: I am leaning towards counterintelligence. If the Sheriff's Dept is involved at all, that would be a reason for leaving them out of the loop.

 

[Racing22]

FBI, according to https://www.fbi.gov/investigate, has jurisdiction over violent crimes, cybercrime, white collar crime, organized crime, civil rights, WMD's (in the country), and counterintelligence.

It's The RUSSIANS............ RUN...........

 

[Macgyver]

Plus aren't aliens above the Fibs pay grade? Isn't that handled buy the "no such agency"?

 

[Millwright]

Someone using the computers there for bitcoin mining?

Wouldn't call for an evac. tho.

 

[Bubble Head]

It is not just the Observatory but also the nearby post office was shut down by the FBI. Remember this Observatory is run by Boulder. Any time I see the word, Boulder, all that comes to mind is drugs and drug addicts. It is a drugged out town and a drugged out campus. A true Mecca of the liberal/commie left. Drugs will bring the FBI into play.