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FBI Mysteriously Closes New Mexico Observatory (popularmechanics.com)
Alien conspiracy theories are swirling after an observatory in New Mexico has been unexpectedly closed due to an unnamed "security issue," prompting evacuations and a visit from the FBI. "The Sunspot Observatory is now currently closed to both staff and the public, with no word on why or when it will be open again," reports Popular Mechanics. From the report: "We have decided to vacate the facility at this time as precautionary measure," said spokesperson Shari Lifson to the Alomogordo Daily News. "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 first evacuated on September 6 and has remained closed since then. According to Lifson, the observatory has no date for reopening yet.
As part of the investigation into the security issue, the observatory has contacted the FBI, which has been reported on the scene with multiple agents and a Blackhawk helicopter. According to local sheriff Benny House, the agency has been working with local law enforcement but refuses to share any details. The sheriff speculated that the evacuation could be due to some kind of threat made against the facility or its staff, but expressed confusion as to why local police would be left out of the loop. "If that's the case, why didn't they call us and let us deal with it?" he said. "I don't know why the FBI would get involved so quick and not tell us anything."
UPDATE (9/22/18): A warrant application filed in the case suggests the closure involved an FBI investigation into child pornography.
As part of the investigation into the security issue, the observatory has contacted the FBI, which has been reported on the scene with multiple agents and a Blackhawk helicopter. According to local sheriff Benny House, the agency has been working with local law enforcement but refuses to share any details. The sheriff speculated that the evacuation could be due to some kind of threat made against the facility or its staff, but expressed confusion as to why local police would be left out of the loop. "If that's the case, why didn't they call us and let us deal with it?" he said. "I don't know why the FBI would get involved so quick and not tell us anything."
UPDATE (9/22/18): A warrant application filed in the case suggests the closure involved an FBI investigation into child pornography.
"Alien conspiracy theories are swirling", which is, from the set of probable causes the most unlikely reason by far. Instead of fantasizing, would be more interesting to list a few of the likely causes.
Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
Pretty Simple really:
1)Overlooks White Sands Missile Range.
2)Large Tower.
3)Suspicion of surveillance devices placed on tower/systems that should not be there.
It says "Sunspot Observatory", I had to Google it and turns out that's actually it's name, but it IS a solar observatory, one that's dedicated to observation of the closest star to our planet. Ie. the Sun. This makes it exceedingly unlikely they would have anything to do with any alien discovery, unless they're some sort of Sun-dwelling variety, it'd be more likely to run into one at a Walmart.
It also should go without saying (But I'll say it anyway) that it isn't the world's only solar observatory, and the world includes many more countries than USA, so any discovery relating to Sun couldn't be hidden by shutting down this one, nor would it make sense as it'd stop further observations.
According to article I quickly skimmed, the observatory was founded for radio observations of the sun, and there's mentions of the feds being very interested in the "antennas", so the espionage angle seems almost certain and would necessitate evacuation to prevent tampering with evidence (Perhaps not allowing them to pack their stuff when leaving though, as one article claimed) and continued espionage. Main argument against this is that all sensitive communications would be encrypted nowadays, but still just the existence of certain communications would be a security issue.
The Sun has a better record of accurate reporting than CNN or NYT.
Sad but true.
Sorry, the right lost the right to moralizing when you all turned a blind eye to what you CLAIM to 'abhor' and elected Trump. You also lost any claims to 'the party of fiscal responsibility' at the same time.
Donald Trump, on a crusade to make Nixon look respectable
Sorry the left gave up ANY AND ALL pretense of having ANY morals at all when they didn't call for her ass to be thrown in prison.
Let's think about that. A GOP controlled executive branch. A GOP controlled house and senate. A GOP appointed justice dept. A GOP that can literally do anything they please right now. You really ought to look at who you voted for and ask why they are letting HRC get away with these terrible crimes. Seems like you voted for the wrong people maybe?