The FBI Mysteriously Close New Mexico Observatory

[UglyCasanova]

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/telescopes/a23107258/fbi-new-mexico-observatory/

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.

“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 FBI is refusing to tell us what’s going on,” said House. “We’ve got people up there that requested us to standby while they evacuate it. Nobody would really elaborate on any of the circumstances as to why.”

 

[Red Squirrel]

Guessing there is a transit of one of their satellites and they don't want anyone to know said satellite exists.

Actually I think it's around that time of year where geostationary sats start to transit right? Depends on location but think it's around Sept-October? I may actually be on to something here...

I am now on a list.

Though if it was that, it would happen twice a year.

 

[Darwin333]

WTF kind of security issue at an observatory requires a Blackhawk helicopter?

 

[Darwin333]

Guessing there is a transit of one of their satellites and they don't want anyone to know said satellite exists.

Actually I think it's around that time of year where geostationary sats start to transit right? Depends on location but think it's around Sept-October? I may actually be on to something here...

I am now on a list.

Though if it was that, it would happen twice a year.

So you basically announce to the entire world, where there are lots of telescopes that can see it, to pay attention? Even if it doesn't pass over them now because of their location they should be able to easily work out the date when it would.

 

[Thebobo]

Armageddon

 

[Paratus]

WTF kind of security issue at an observatory requires a Blackhawk helicopter?

Shit I don’t know if can tell you. But screw it

Spoiler

 

[jpiniero]

WTF kind of security issue at an observatory requires a Blackhawk helicopter?

Aliens? Where's Mulder when you need him...

 

[Paratus]

Aliens? Where's Mulder when you need him...

 

[Red Squirrel]

So you basically announce to the entire world, where there are lots of telescopes that can see it, to pay attention? Even if it doesn't pass over them now because of their location they should be able to easily work out the date when it would.

If my theory is actually right I'm thinking there is more to it than that and that it's a one time event that won't matter after. Maybe they are doing something top secret that once it's over, it does not matter. Like I don't know, some kind of weird maneuver with the satellite or something.

I'm more or less theorizing at this point but if I somehow vanish tomorrow then maybe I was actually close.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Why the FBI though? Not a military agency or something

 

[madoka]

If there ever was an appropriate time for this meme, it's now.

 

[OutHouse]

this is odd, they even shut down the post office... The residence have to go to the neighboring towns post office. this could be a XFile episode.

 

[OutHouse]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8bM2iBm4nI

 

[IronWing]

this is odd, they even shut down the post office... The residence have to go to the neighboring towns post office. this could be a XFile episode.

This suggests to me that the observatory received a suspicious package.

 

[PottedMeat]

its like 10 miles from holloman air force base and the white sands test range, they've probably got equipment that can easily observe supar sekret stuff

https://www.google.com/maps/place/N...d40415992072d!8m2!3d32.7899803!4d-105.8181881

 

[OutHouse]

This suggests to me that the observatory received a suspicious package.

I thought that too at first, but nobody reported a suspicious package and nobody is getting interviewed. as far as we know.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Could just be something criminal related, right? Since its FBI could be money laundering, drug ring, etc.

Its obvious to assume its something space related but who knows.

 

[FeuerFrei]

WTF kind of security issue at an observatory requires a Blackhawk helicopter?

Must have had an unwelcome visitor. And the chopper is a platform for surveillance. Or maybe it was just quick transportation for whatever personnel flew in.

 

[zinfamous]

Is it maybe a viral marketing campaign for some upcoming X-Files season or movie and not a real news story?

Did any of this actually happen?

 

[snoopy7548]

I just read somewhere that there were something like 31 signals received from a location some billions (?) of light years away. "We've come back to retrieve Mayne."

 

[IronWing]

I’m glad that they remembered the Mayne.

 

[FerrelGeek]

Aliens? Where's Mulder when you need him...

He's banging Scully.

Actually, the FBI doesn't want to see Trump's super secret weather sat that he used create hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Florence.

Hey libs, the above is sarcasm.

 

[zinfamous]

He's banging Scully.

Actually, the FBI doesn't want to see Trump's super secret weather sat that he used create hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Florence.

Hey libs, the above is sarcasm.

"Oh no! The libs thought you were serious!"

 

[Darwin333]

If my theory is actually right I'm thinking there is more to it than that and that it's a one time event that won't matter after. Maybe they are doing something top secret that once it's over, it does not matter. Like I don't know, some kind of weird maneuver with the satellite or something.

I'm more or less theorizing at this point but if I somehow vanish tomorrow then maybe I was actually close.

But they would know about that long beforehand. To use friggen helicopters and make such a spectacle out of it instead of doing it quietly is going to have other countries with telescopes really interested and looking for what they are trying to cover up/ hide.

 

[Thebobo]

Maybe the solar observatory uses radioactive material for its observation and some is missing or something like that?