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posted by martyb on Monday September 17 2018, @03:27PM   Printer-friendly
from the Why-couldn't-they-say-that-before? dept.

On September 6th, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) made the decision to temporarily vacate the Sunspot Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico as a precautionary measure while addressing a security issue. The facility closed down in an orderly fashion and is now re-opening. The residents that vacated their homes will be returning to the site, and all employees will return to work this week.

AURA has been cooperating with an on-going law enforcement investigation of criminal activity that occurred at Sacramento Peak. During this time, we became concerned that a suspect in the investigation potentially posed a threat to the safety of local staff and residents. For this reason, AURA temporarily vacated the facility and ceased science activities at this location.

The decision to vacate was based on the logistical challenges associated with protecting personnel at such a remote location, and the need for expeditious response to the potential threat. AURA determined that moving the small number of on-site staff and residents off the mountain was the most prudent and effective action to ensure their safety.

http://www.aura-astronomy.org/news/news.asp?newsID=389


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  • (Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Monday September 17 2018, @07:30PM

    by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us (6553) on Monday September 17 2018, @07:30PM (#736136) Journal

    True. That anybody saw. It would not be completely and totally impossible for a team to bring their gear into an entryway or foyer and establish a quarantine zone there. Or even one person, one hazmat suit, with detection equipment. Negative returns = no further result needed.

    And it could be something like a security issue. The post office evacuation... not completely a coincidence. But if not, then why - if it were just a security/espionage matter why would they need to close and evacuate a post office?

    I'd bet instead the government has tuned up its responses for events like this to have a fast-response emergency triage that is intentionally low-key enough to not draw attention.

    Sooner or later I'm sure the truth will out. I could be a million miles off but this is one possibility I've seen nobody mention... probably because everybody thinks they know how such an event would play out and that doesn't have to be the case anymore.

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