Amanda Kooser/CNET

After being closed for 10 days following a sudden and unexplained evacuation, the Sunspot Solar Observatory in New Mexico is set to reopen on Monday.

The observatory on Sacramento Peak, which overlooks the nearby White Sands Missile Range, was cleared along with the local post office and a handful of nearby residences, following a visit from the FBI earlier this month. No explanation for the evacuation was given to the observatory's employees or to local law enforcement.

"The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) who manages the facility is addressing a security issue at this time," AURA spokesperson Shari Lifson said in an emailed statement last week.

The FBI has not yet responded to a request for further information.

The lack of details led to a flurry of speculation and conspiracy theories. The internet wanted answers to whether the federal government was trying to cover up evidence of aliens or imminent solar flares.

On Sunday, Lifson sent out a follow-up release that would appear to rule out any such out-of-this-world explanation.

"AURA has been cooperating with an on-going law enforcement investigation of criminal activity that occurred at Sacramento Peak," reads the statement. "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 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."

The lack of information on the closure of the observatory was necessary for safety reasons, according to the statement.

"We recognize that the lack of communications while the facility was vacated was concerning and frustrating for some. However, 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 observatory is set to open up again on Monday. It now has a new security service to help manage the unusual number of visitors who've been checking out the peak and the observatory for themselves.

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Crowd Control: A crowdsourced science fiction novel written by CNET readers.</s>An observatory in New Mexico that mysteriously closed for an FBI investigation will reopen Monday.The Sunspot Solar Observatory made headlines earlier this month, when authorities evacuated it without explanation.Investigators would only say there was a security threat.It fueled online speculation as to whether researchers had spotted aliens.The association that runs the observatory is now squashing the rumors, saying the FBI was investigating criminal activity nearby and was concerned about a suspect who could have posed a threat to others.</s>The FBI and the Blackhawk helicopters are gone and the employees of the Sunspot Solar Observatory on Sacramento Peak in New Mexico are slowly coming back after the facility was mysteriously evacuated and closed on September 6th without explanation, causing rumors and conspiracy theories of all sizes and flavors to flourish. While the reason given for the closure seems to make sense in hindsight, the stress it caused local residents (some of whom were also evacuated) and law enforcement officials makes many wonder if it wasn’t overkill … or if there’s still some things they’re not being told.

A spokesperson for AURA, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy which runs the 71-year-old solar observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico, finally revealed on September 16th that the investigation was criminal in nature, but gave no details on the crime itself.

“AURA has been cooperating with an ongoing 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.”

Temporarily? Eleven days of evacuation plus a total news blackout at a facility whose main feature is a telescope makes one say more than “Hmm.” The observatory is near Holloman Air Force Base, the White Sands Missile Range and, of course, Roswell. The investigation was done by the FBI and the owners of the Blackhawk helicopters, not members of local law enforcement, who were asked to leave and kept in the dark.

As of this writing, there is no news of arrests being made or criminal charges being filed as a result of the alleged criminal investigation. The nine employees are back on the job and the facility is again open for tourists. How long will it take before they’re tired of being asked the same questions that have nothing to do with the Dunn Solar Telescope or the sun?

While the sun continues to shine everywhere else, Sunspot seems to be under a dome covered with an SPF 100 suncreen.</s>SUNSPOT, N.M. - The solar observatory located in Sunspot, N.M. that was closed for safety reasons is scheduled to reopen after it was shut down while the FBI investigated the area.

According to a release by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), the observatory will reopen Monday after criminal activity was reported at Sacramento Peak.

The release also stated that the investigation involved a suspect who AURA officials believed posed a threat to the safety of staff and residents that live nearby.

AURA has not released the current status of the suspect or any information involving the suspect.

ABC-7 learned the observatory had closed on Sept. 6 and that staff and some residents in the area were forced to evacuate.

According to AURA, they did not release any information about the closure because of the potential of alerting the suspect and impede the law enforcement investigation.</s>The FBI swarmed on the National Solar Observatory (NSO) in Sunspot, New Mexico, on September 6, where it has remained closed ever since. The investigative agency has yet to give a reason why it has closed down the NSO where it has set up base, leading to conspiracy theories across the web. Theories are abound that there could be some sort of alien craft or object, or a massive solar flare which the observatory spotted and the FBI wants to keep under wraps. The organisation that runs this observatory, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) has kept quiet through the whole ordeal, but they have now broke their silence.

AURA confirmed that employees will be returning to work this week, stating staff had been removed due to “criminal activity”. The statement reads: "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 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.”

The organisation refused to elaborate while an FBI investigation was still ongoing, but the Sunspot observatory seemed pleased with the publicity which has been generated. The NSO’s website read: "With the excitement this closure has generated, we hope you will come and visit us as we reopen, and see for yourself the services we provide for science and public outreach in heliophysics.” However, with no official explanation, conspiracy theories are bound to remain, especially as local law enforcement has not been told. To add more mystery to the case, locals have reported seeing Black Hawk helicopters flying over the site.

Otero County Sheriff Benny House told Alamogordo Daily News: “The FBI is refusing to tell us what’s going on. “We’ve got people up there that requested us to stand by while they evacuate it. Nobody would really elaborate on any of the circumstances as to why. “The FBI were up there. What their purpose was nobody will say. But for the FBI to get involved that quick and be so secretive about it, there was a lot of stuff going on up there. “There was a Black Hawk helicopter, a bunch of people around antennas and work crews on towers but nobody would tell us anything.”</s>New Mexico observatory closed for security reasons to reopen

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An observatory in the mountains of southern New Mexico that had been closed since early September because of an undisclosed security concern is now scheduled to reopen on Monday.

Officials overseeing the Sunspot Solar Observatory say that there is no longer a security threat to staff. The facility closed on Sept. 6.

The officials with the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy and the National Science Foundation say Sunday they have hired a temporary security team to patrol the observatory when it reopens. Located atop Sacramento Peak, the observatory was established in 1947.

Officials said Sunspot's one-of-a-kind telescope produces some of the sharpest images of the sun available in the world. Data from observations done at Sunspot is sent to New Mexico State University servers and can be used by researchers around the world.</s>A solar observatory in New Mexico that shut down mysteriously on Sept. 6 is reopening after law enforcement authorities investigated a "security issue," the organization that manages the facility announced Sunday.

The unexpected shutdown of the Sunspot Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico, set off a flurry of wild rumors, with some wondering if the facility had found evidence of aliens or detected a deadly solar "superflare."

But the shutdown was taken as a precautionary measure after a suspect under investigation “potentially posed a threat to the safety of local staff and residents,” the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), which manages the observatory, said in a statement.

“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,” the association said. “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.”

The association gave no further details about the investigation or the nature of the threat and declined to comment further.

Conspiracy theorists weren't the only ones who had been puzzling over the shutdown.

"The FBI is refusing to tell us what's going on," Sheriff Benny House of Otero County told The Alamagordo Daily News last week. "There was a Blackhawk helicopter, a bunch of people around antennas and work crews on towers, but nobody would tell us anything."

Founded in 1947, the observatory is in the Lincoln National Forest, 18 miles south of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, in the southern part of the state. It has several telescopes, including the Dunn Solar Telescope, once considered one of the world’s best.

Want more stories about astronomy?
• Weird hexagon on Saturn is way bigger than scientists thought
• Gift guide for astronomy lovers: Here's the best skywatching gear</s>The organization in charge of the New Mexico solar observatory that was mysteriously evacuated and shuttered for more than a week attributed the closure to a threat posed by a suspect in a criminal investigation and said the facility will reopen Monday.

In a statement Sunday, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy said employees will return to work after “recent developments in the investigation” convinced officials that there was no risk to the staff.

The association also for the first time provided some details about why the observatory had to be closed, saying in a statement that officials had been cooperating with an inquiry of criminal activity in the area and “became concerned that a suspect in the investigation potentially posed a threat to the safety of local staff and residents.”

[A solar observatory in New Mexico is evacuated for a week and the FBI is investigating. No one will say why.]

The sudden evacuation of the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, N.M., on Sept. 6 had spawned online speculation, fueled by authorities’ reluctance to provide any information about why the facility was closed.

The local sheriff and those tasked with guarding the observatory after the closure said that even they had been kept in the dark. FBI agents — who were on the scene during the evacuation — declined to say anything. Internet sleuths wondered whether researchers had spotted something extraterrestrial, or whether the solar telescope at the site had possibly been hacked to spy on a nearby missile testing range.

Roswell, N.M. — where the 1947 crash of a flying object sparked so much interest that the city is now home to a UFO museum — is only about a 2½ -hour drive from the observatory.

The association’s statement did not offer details about the nature of the criminal investigation, the suspect or the developments that led officials to conclude that there was no longer a risk. The association said it was working with a security service, in part because it expected more visitors in light of the mysterious closure. The site is normally open to the public.

“We recognize that the lack of communications while the facility was vacated was concerning and frustrating for some,” the association said. “However, 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.”

FBI spokespeople in New Mexico and Washington and a spokeswoman for the association did not return messages seeking comment Sunday night. Otero County Sheriff Benny House said Sunday evening that he had not been told why the facility was closed, and was not aware of an investigation in the area or a person who might pose a threat.

“I know absolutely nothing about what they’re talking about. They have not talked to us,” House said. “If there’s a threat, I think I should know. I’m pretty disappointed.”

The National Solar Observatory sits at more than 9,000 feet in the Lincoln National Forest in the southern part of New Mexico, and it is part of a larger astronomy facility on the site. The association’s statement said the closure was based in part on “logistical challenges associated with protecting personnel at such a remote location.” The adjacent Apache Point Observatory, a collection of telescopes about half a mile away, continued to operate as normal, though, even as the Sunspot facility remained closed.</s>New Mexico observatory closed for security reasons to reopen

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An observatory in the mountains of southern New Mexico that had been closed since early September because of an undisclosed security concern is scheduled to reopen on Monday, officials managing the facility said.

The Sunspot Solar Observatory no longer faces a security threat to staff, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy said in a statement Sunday. The facility closed on Sept. 6.

The association has hired a temporary security team to patrol the observatory when it reopens. "Given the significant amount of publicity the temporary closure has generated, and the consequent expectation of an unusual number of visitors to the site, we are temporarily engaging a security service while the facility returns to a normal working environment," the association said.

Authorities have not revealed the nature of the security threat the observatory faced. The FBI has referred all questions to the association.

"We recognize that the lack of communications while the facility was vacated was concerning and frustrating for some. However, 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 association said.

Located atop Sacramento Peak, the observatory was established in 1947.

It overlooks the Tularosa Basin — an expanse of desert that includes the city of Alamogordo, Holloman Air Force Base, White Sands Missile Range, White Sands National Monument and the site of the world's first atomic bomb test.

The telescope at Sunspot was originally built by the U.S. Air Force. After several years of operation, it was transferred to the National Solar Observatory, which is part of the National Science Foundation.

New Mexico State University in 2016 launched an initiative funded by the foundation to upgrade and update the facility through the newly formed Sunspot Solar Observatory Consortium.

Officials said Sunspot's one-of-a-kind telescope produces some of the sharpest images of the sun available in the world. Data from observations done at Sunspot is sent to New Mexico State University servers and can be used by researchers around the world.</s>The mystery as to what exactly is going on at Sunspot Solar Observatory that sits high above White Sands Missile Range has resulted in a media frenzy and a maelstrom of theories, some of which are beyond bizarre. The facility and the small town that supports it were completely evacuated as the FBI descended onto the complex without explanation ten days ago. Not even the local sheriff was informed on what was going on and the place was still officially declared off-limits long after investigators had left. You can read our completely in-depth coverage and analysis on the very peculiar series of events here and here . Now the organization that runs the observatory has put out a statement declaring that it would reopen this week and offering a few new but vague details about the circumstances surrounding the evacuation.

"Sunspot Solar Observatory is transitioning back to regular operations as of September 17th 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. In light of recent developments in the investigation, we have determined there is no risk to staff, and Sunspot Solar Observatory is transitioning back to regular operations as of September 17th. Given the significant amount of publicity the temporary closure has generated, and the consequent expectation of an unusual number of visitors to the site, we are temporarily engaging a security service while the facility returns to a normal working environment. We recognize that the lack of communications while the facility was vacated was concerning and frustrating for some. However, 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 nature of how this was done and how the residents were removed from the site without any warning and without any explanation could potentially mean a multitude of things, but it still seems like suspicion of espionage is the likely reason. Also, the most detailed statement we have on what actually went on up there during the investigation is from a highly credible source—the sheriff—and points to this possibility more so than a workplace dispute or something of that nature.

“The FBI is refusing to tell us what’s going on,” House said. “We’ve got people up there (at Sunspot) that requested us to standby while they evacuate it. Nobody would really elaborate on any of the circumstances as to why. The FBI were up there. What their purpose was nobody will say.... But for the FBI to get involved that quick and be so secretive about it, there was a lot of stuff going on up there... There was a Blackhawk helicopter, a bunch of people around antennas and work crews on towers but nobody would tell us anything.”

As we discussed in our large analysis piece on the event, the facility is very low security—as in not really any at all—yet sits in a highly strategic location overlooking one of America's preeminent weapons test complexes, White Sands Missile Range, and Holloman AFB. Sunspot Solar Observatory has multiple places where sensors, such as antenna aerials, could potentially be planted without drawing outright attention. These could be used to record and intercept electronic emissions related to military activities in, above, and around the valley below.

The network the telescope works on could have also been compromised. We were told it was upgraded some time ago for remote operations, but we are still trying to confirm this fact and get an understanding of just the system works. We also don't know if foreign nationals were working at the site at the time of the incident.

We have reached out to the observatory's director in an attempt to get some basic answers to questions about the site itself, but we have yet to get a response.

Rest assured we will keep updating you as to how this strange story unfolds and with any interesting information we find about the site and its surroundings.
The Sunspot Solar Observatory in New Mexico is set to reopen on Monday after being closed due to "an on-going law enforcement investigation of criminal activity that occurred at Sacramento Peak" in which "a suspect in the investigation potentially posed a threat to the safety of local staff and residents".