According to a news release by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), the observatory will reopen Monday after criminal activity was reported at Sacramento Peak.
In the statement, Communications Coordinator Shari Lifson explained, “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.”
AURA has not released any information on the suspect or the alleged criminal activity. In AURA’s decision to close the facility, they decided not to explain to the public their reason for closing out of concern they would alert the suspect. For this reason, the staff vacated the observatory with no explanation.
Sunspot Solar Observatory is transitioning back to regular operations as of September 17th Read AURA's full statement here: @NSF @SunspotSolarObs pic.twitter.com/cPpaGrTNtU
— AURA (@AURADC) September 16, 2018
“The decision to vacate was based on the logistical challenges associated with protecting personnel at such a remote location, and the need for an 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,” said AURA.
AURA also apologized for leaving the public in the dark – even while the abrupt departure off the mountain probably led to wild “conspiracy theories” involving aliens or invaders from Alpha Centauri or some other strange place. As Lifson explains, “Our desire to provide additional information had to be balanced against the risk that, if spread at the time, the news would alert the suspect and impede the law enforcement investigation. That was a risk we could not take.”
The NSO’s Sunspot Solar Observatory, on Sacramento Peak in the southern part of the state, was evacuated last Thursday (Sept. 6), as was a nearby post office, according to Digital Journal. AURA, which manages the Sunspot observatory with funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, used the facility’s website to announce the observatory and surrounding area are closed until further notice “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
