Due to an unnamed and untold security threat, an observatory in the New Mexico has been shut down. A visit was made by the FBI before they closed it down. The Sunspot Observatory has closed its doors to both the staff and the public. There is no news on when the observatory will open again. Spokesperson Shari Lifson, said, “We have decided to vacate the facility at this time as a precautionary measure. The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy who manages the facility is addressing a security issue at this time.”
Lifson said that the facility was evacuated on the 6th of September and has remained closed since then. According to him, there is no date for opening given, as of yet. The observatory has contacted the FBI as a part of the investigation on the security issue. FBI was reported to be on the scene with multiple agents and a Blackhawk helicopter. Local sheriff Benny House said that the agency has been working with the local law enforcement, but they have not shared any details yet. House said, “The FBI is refusing to tell us what’s going on. We’ve got people up there that requested us to standby while they evacuate it. Nobody would elaborate on any of the circumstances as to why.”
The sheriff said that the evacuation might have been due to some threat made against the facility or the staff members. However, he was confused as to why the local police were not part of the matter. He said, “If that’s the case, why didn’t they call us and let us deal with it? I don’t know why the FBI would get involved so quickly and not tell us anything.”
There is another possibility that some hazardous chemical has leaked or some other natural danger has occurred in the observatory. However, there is still no reason for the involvement of FBI and keeping things hidden from everyone. Scientists are forced to postpone their research while the FBI is carrying out its investigation. Only time will tell what really happened.
