Bottom line: Sunspot Solar Observatory will re-open, beginning September 17, 2018. While in school he was known for his passion for space exploration and astronomy. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock It is funded by the National Science Foundation in partnership with the state of New Mexico. In1940, the High Altitude Observatory (HAO) had been established in Climax, Colorado, specifically to study the sun. Charlie J. Garcia passed away comfortably on 11/19/21 at age 91 surrounded by his caring family members. DOY:310 14:46 UT: Speed: 391.5 km/s Density: 3.53 p/cm 3: best of soho: images. Winner will be selected at random on 12/01/2022. These . 3463 Las Palomas It was later known as the Sacramento Peak Observatory, and as one site of the National Solar Observatory (NSO). Sunspot Solar Observatory Closure Finally Explained, And It Wasn't Aliens - Or So They Want You To Believe Aaron Homer September 17, 2018 The reason for the sudden closure two weeks ago of New Mexico's Sunspot Solar Observatory has been revealed - sort of - and, perhaps disappointingly, it wasn't because of aliens. The Sacramento Peak Observatory was conceived as a complementary telescope to the existing facilities in Climax, as Roberts had realized that "there were long periods of cloudiness, especially during the winter, when it was not possible to make observations",[3] and hence a second dedicated solar observatory should be established. Once the world's most modern observatory, this building is now a private school. sunspots : spaceweather : estimated Kp : solar wind. Sunspot Solar Observatory Sunspot Solar Observatory NMSU is leading a consortium of universities to continue operations of the Dunn Solar Telescope at the Sunspot Solar Observatory. The facility closed down in an orderly fashion and is now re-opening. [1] In September 1947, the USAF issued a contract to HAO and Harvard University to conduct a survey and thereby identify an appropriate site for a new solar observatory and to determine which instruments to install at the new site. A small crew of 5 made the initial camp at the Sunspot site. Share sensitive information only Aggie One Stop; Phonebook; Campus Map; Campuses; Campus Calendars & Events; Library; Canvas; Email; myNMSU; NMSU LEADS 2025; Sunspot Solar Observatory. Suggest an Edit NM 6563/Sunspot Hwy Phone 575-434-7190 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. AIA 1600. ) or https:// means you've safely Enjoy the ride to and from and learn more about the Solar System and the work being done at the Observatories. There was a Blackhawk helicopter, a bunch of people around antennas and work crews on towers but nobody would tell us anything. On the western side of the Sacramento peak,[5] there are wide open views of Apache Point Observatory and Sloan Digital Sky Survey telescopes. Some of the more plausible theories have included some kind of spying incident or attempt from a hostile country or group (given the reports of people working on the antennas and towers), a possible terrorist plot or an accident involving the mercury stored beneath the facility. Learn about the history surrounding the observatory, its establishment in 1947, the various historic telescopes on the site, the community of Sunspot, and the future of the site as we move forward into the future. An Antarctic Mount telescope is situated beside the Visitor's Center on site and provides a light feed into the Visitor's Center. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. Located at an altitude of 9,200 feet in the Lincoln National Forest, the Sunspot Solar Observatory is home to one of the largest active solar telescopes in the world: theRichard B. Dunn Solar Telescope. An official website of the The first sunspot image taken on January 28, 2020 by the NSF's Inouye Solar Telescope's Wave Front Correction context viewer is shown against an image of the full disk of the Sun from the GONG network of telescopes from the National Solar Observatory. Sunspot, New Mexico. The observatory uses the Dunn Solar Telescope, which takes some of the highest-resolution images and other data of the sun anywhere in the world. video game. 2022 Atlas Obscura. Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content. Regions of intense magnetic fields on the sun, known as sunspots, can release explosions of energy such as . Weve got people up there (at Sunspot) that requested us to stand by while they evacuate it. FBI agents in Blackhawk helicopters swoop on the Sunspot Solar Observatory in New Mexico and close the facility down for ten days. A government reticent to comment on anything. Read more from Reuters. Sunspot Solar Observatory Consortium now runs the Sunspot Visitors Center and Dunn Solar Telescope, in collaboration with NSO. Located at an altitude of 9,200 feet in the Lincoln National Forest, the Sunspot Solar Observatory is home to one of the largest active solar telescopes in the world: the Richard B. Dunn. Home of the International Space Hall of Fame. Last Thursday, the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico was closed to the public and evacuated for reasons that remain unclear. If you have any questions about the science we perform at the telescope, or about the outreach we provide through our Visitors Center, please contact our Director, Dr. McAteer (mcateer@nmsu.edu). ( According toOtero County Sheriff Benny House: The FBI is refusing to tell us whats going on. Further inquiries and inspection tended to confirm this initial reaction". As of today, September 13, 2018, the observatory remains closed. Join a walking tour of the Sunspot Solar Observatory. Located at the end of the Sunspot Scenic By-way (NM6563) is the Sunspot and Apache Point Observatories and the Sunspot Visitor Center. Toggle navigation Menu | Quick Links . It continues, for the time being, to do astronomy thanks to something of a rescuing proposal from New Mexico State. The visitor center has nice restrooms, a small museum and an unfriendly lady worker inside. Tweets by MissionSoho . Sunspot Solar Observatory is a global consortium that currently consists of personnel both in Sunspot, NM, at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM, and other institute across the world. Nobody would tell us what were supposed to be watching out for. SHERIFF OUT OF THE LOOP. Nobody would really elaborate on any of the circumstances as to why. By April 1948, the Committee on Geophysical Sciences (then within the War Department's Research and Development Board) formally accepted this recommendation and a contract was written, mandating the Air Force to complete the observatory. Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. The glowing hot gas traces out the twists and loops of the Sun's magnetic field lines. The scatter plot showing the comparison of the daily sunspot area, panels (A-C); and monthly averaged sunspot area, panels (D-F) with M2020 for 1904-1920, 2012-2017 and for the extended period of . Sunspot is located on Sacramento Peak Lincoln National Forest specifically, in Otero County. website belongs to an official government organization in the While interested in all aspects of space exploration, his primary passion is planetary science. AIA 094. It is split between operations at the telescope facility at Sunspot, New Mexico and data and management at the Department of Astronomy at New Mexico State University. Solar Pick ECLIPSE FROM A PLANE OVER ANTARTICA (December 23, 2021) . Something went wrong while submitting the form. United States. The observatory is operated by New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the National Solar Observatory (NSO). The Sunspot Solar Observatory was established in 1947 atop Sacramento Peak in Lincoln National Forest and overlooks 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. connected to the .gov website. They appear dark because they are cooler than other parts of the Sun's surface. Sunspots are dark, planet-size regions of strong magnetic fields on the surface of the sun. NSF and the USFS executed a land use agreement (1980) to formalize this transfer and the continued use of the land for the NSO. This was reported to be for security reasons, but no details were provided, and still havent been at the time of this writing. AIA 0335. Oops! Its main mirror measures almost five feet across, and sits at the bottom of a 228-foot pit below the telescope building. In addition to the DST, Sunspot Solar Observatory hosts 4 other telescopes. An image of active regions on the Sun from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. 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. Sunspot Solar Observatory and Apache Point Observatory sit on Sacramento Peak at an elevation of 9,200 feet (2800 meters), high enough to give telescopes a clearer view of objects in space by reducing interference from airborne particles called aerosols. There is a celebration of his life on Saturday, November 5, 2022 in Hilo, HI. Our unique telescope design allows for a high degree of flexibility in our instrumental use and setup. Nobody would identify any specific threat. The incident has, of course, generated a lot of speculation as to what is going on, but with few details available, it is difficult to say anything for certain. The Sunspot Solar Observatory continues to work closely with AURA in order to allow for us to reopen as soon as possible. It's not hard to see why the 2018 evacuation of the Sunspot Solar Observatory near Alamogordo, New Mexico has gotten lodged in the minds of so many and spawned more than a few conspiracy theories. She also added, for Alamogordo Daily News: The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy who manages the facility is addressing a security issue at this time. best of soho: movies . 3001 Visitor Center Rd Drive,Sunspot, NM 88349, 2022 New Mexico State University - Board of Regents. The specifics of the contract called for "the preparation of detailed plans for an integrated solar research facility, which would combine observational, analytical, and data-reduction activities, all on a larger scale than at any comparable observatory; design, development, and fabrication of the required optical device; and concurrently, theoretical studies of solar structure and characteristics"[1]. That was a risk we could not take. The Sunspot Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak was shut for 11 days for "a security issue," and its closure drew cheeky speculation that authorities were investigating the presence of UFOs. During World War II, there was a growing interest in studying solar activity like sunspots and solar flares. It does appear to be a genuine event, given the local news coverage and notices on official websites. [1] Such studies of the upper atmosphere were critical for predicting conditions for radio communication, guided missiles, and supersonic aircraft and, as a result, solar observations "became essential to the war effort". There was no threat. Learn More We Inspire The National Solar Observatory is a data-driven research institution dedicated to providing scientists with critical information needed to drive new research. No purchase necessary. "History of HAO, Walter Orr Roberts, Sun Research, National Center for Atmospheric Research", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sunspot_Solar_Observatory&oldid=1086539029, This page was last edited on 6 May 2022, at 19:39. The visitors center is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the summer months. All rights reserved. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Because the IP address led back to Sunspot, though, this activity wasn't actually New Mexico's concern: Sunspot is a federal facility. They can spawn eruptive disturbances such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Suddenly the field of solar astronomy became an appealing goal for both astronomers and the military.[2][3]. It became an important mission of the USAF to establish a solar observatory and "after the war, when the Air Force recognized the need to organize its own long-range program of solar studies, it quite naturally turned for specialized assistance to the recently formed High Altitude Observatory (HAO)". It's managed by the Association of Universities for Research in. In 2011, he started writing about space on a freelance basis, and now currently writes for AmericaSpace and Futurism (part of Vocal). AIA 0171. Established by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) via a Memorandum of Agreement with the USFS in 1950, the facility was transferred to NSF in 1976. If you are in Cloudcroft, the beauty of the ride to Sunspot and a nice short walk through Sunspot is certainly worth 2 hours of time. Officials explain why they closed #SunspotObservatory (without implicating aliens): https://t.co/nRKDmc6dlz H/T @AURADC @NSF cc: @Synergy3k @XFilesNews #TrustNoOne ? The sunspot images were captured by the Michelson . In 1966, construction began on a new kind of telescope, one specially designed to capture high-resolution images of the sun. By the end of 1947, Menzel and Roberts made the recommendation that Sacramento Peak be chosen as the solar research site for USAF. We have decided to vacate the facility at this time as precautionary measure. The Visitor Center contains exhibits from the Dunn Solar Telescope, the Apache Point Observatory, and the Lincoln National Forest. The entire telescope measures more than 300 feet long and is enclosed in a vacuum tube, which prevents the suns heat from causing turbulence that could affect the telescopes output. In 2015, the blog was renamed as Planetaria. Theories have ranged from a mercury storage leak to alien contact. According to a warrant application, which was filed last week and unsealed a few days ago, the FBI was examining the observatory - but not for the . Roberts worked with the Bureau of Standards, "forecasting radio conditions on the basis of solar observations". Weve been out of there since Thursday morning. Sunspot Solar Observatory is part of the National Solar Observatory network and is maintained by AURA. It is split between operations at the telescope facility at Sunspot, New Mexico and data and management at the Department of Astronomy at New Mexico State University. The observatory is also fairly close to Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range, lending credibility to that possibility. We have a very regular maintenance routine. One of the largest refracting telescopes in the world, and the first built specifically for studying astrophysics. He started his blog The Meridiani Journal in 2005, which was a chronicle of planetary exploration. "We were told on September 6th that we would be evacuated . Your submission has been received! "Further, there were only four sunspots on the Sun, all of which had stable magnetic fields that were unlikely to explode. Reuters and other media are reporting that the mysterious 11-day closure of Sunspot Solar Observatory in New Mexico stemmed from an FBI investigation of a janitor suspected of using the facilitys wireless internet service to view and distribute child pornography. Visitors are not permitted on observatory grounds after PM unless attending a special event held at the Visitor Center. Access to the facility telescopes and grounds are open for to the public for guided tours. The observatory uses the Dunn Solar Telescope, which takes some of the. He has also written for Universe Today and SpaceFlight Insider, and has also been published in The Mars Quarterly and has done supplementary writing for the well-known iOS app Exoplanet for iPhone and iPad. For this reason, AURA temporarily vacated the facility and ceased science activities at this location. 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. We hung out for a little while then we left. [1] Holloman Air Force Base could be used to supply the equipment and any supplies. Learn about the unique, state-of-the-art instruments we use to study the Sun, contributed by universities all around the world. A NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) image of the sun taken on September 13, 2022. We recognize that the lack of communications while the facility was vacated was concerning and frustrating for some. AIA 0131. Apache Point Observatory, about a mile away from Sunspot Solar Observatory, is still operational and has not been shut down. The Sunspot Solar Observatory (SSO) is an astronomical observatory designed for the study of the Sun. Self-guided tours are available during other times. Located at the end of the Sunspot Scenic By-way (NM6563) is the Sunspot and Apache Point Observatories and the Sunspot Visitor Center. The practical applications for solar research, as discovered by the military during World War II, regarding the impact solar activity had on radio communication spurred the US Congress to provide for a military-funded observatory. . A scale model of our solar system, with signs noting the location of each planet (or former planet), begins with Pluto at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, continues along NM 6563 and ends with the sun at the observatory. Roberts and Menzel examined the White Sands Proving Ground (an area used as a research rocket firing range near Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico). Thank you! With the excitement this closure has generated, we hope you will come and visit us when we do reopen, and see for yourself the services we provide for science and public outreach in heliophysics. ALSO DON'T MISS : Outreach Spotlight; From the overlook beside the telescope, White Sands National Park stands out as gypsum white [6] against the sandy background of the desert. So, I called our people up and asked them to leave in a very sensible and calm manner and locked everything up. Paul Scott Anderson has had a passion for space exploration that began when he was a child when he watched Carl Sagans Cosmos. American International Rattlesnake Museum. The 71-year-old, 9,200-foot-elevation observatory on Sacramento Peak is America's national center for ground-based solar physics. They "concluded that the section of the Sacramento Mountains in which Sacramento Peak is located would be especially promising for a solar research site. UPDATE SEPTEMBER 16, 2018: The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) issued the following statement about the status of the Sunspot Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico. What makes this intriguing is the reported involvement of the FBI. There is no cause for concern there. The FBI were up there. As Lifson told Alamogordo Daily News: So what actually happened? The Sunspot telescope facility is in the Sacramento Mountains, approximately 18 miles (29km) south of Cloudcroft. Alamogordo, NM 88310 And were working with the proper authorities on this issue. A daily update by email. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. The statement said Sunspot Solar Observatory will transition back to regular operations as of Monday, September 17. Thu, Nov 3 2022. The Center is operated by New Mexico State University through support from the state of New Mexico and provides guided tours of the site and the telescope for the public on Saturday and Sunday. ORIGINAL STORY BEGINS HERE: Everyone loves a good mystery, and there is a very curious one happening in New Mexico right now. AIA 0304. Supervisor's Office The Sunspot Astronomy and Visitor Center provides an interactive astronomical experience through activities, displays, and informational exhibits. This place is located in the middle of the Lincoln National Forest, and is a really nice drive from Cloudcroft. United States government. AURA has been cooperating with an on-going law enforcement investigation of criminal activity that occurred at Sacramento Peak. The Sun Now. Sunspot is an unincorporated community in the Sacramento Mountains in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. In 1947, a location in the Sacramento Mountains was selected, and the Sunspot Solar Observatory was born. 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. STUFF OF LEGEND. "(The DSCOVR spacecraft is the Deep Space Climate Observatory. 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 spotlight was shown on the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot on Sept. 6, 2018, when it was evacuated with the facility's website citing "unforeseen circumstances" an unclear. A statement on the observatorys website states: On Thursday, September 6th, AURA made the decision to temporarily close Sunspot. It was our decision to evacuate the facility. At the time it was the worlds highest permanent observatory for astronomy, at an elevation of over 11,000 feet above sea level. The town of Sunspot itself is very small, and all 12-15 residents were evacuated, as well as four employees at the observatory, five or six employees of AURA and employees of the post office (number unknown). The observatory is operated by New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the National Solar Observatory (NSO). Learn More We Provide The observation room for the Dunn Solar Telescope is open for tours on select days and times. A statement purportedly from an astronomer, posted on Reddit, says that an announcement from AURA will be coming soon. As the name suggests, this telescope was previously deployed in the Antarctic. The visitor center and museum is open 9 am to 5 pm. There is no Uranus sign because people keep stealing it! This solar observatory does it right with the proper way to look at the sun. Enjoy the ride to and from and learn more about the Solar System and the work being done at the Observatories. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Sunspot, an aptly named community in southwestern New Mexico, is home to two major astronomical observatories. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. AIA 0211. But researchers soon realized that the remote site was blanketed in clouds nearly every afternoon in the winter months. No reason for us to be there. At least, that's what they . Sacramento Peak was, at 9200 feet was also low enough to be more accessible to researchers than Climax at 11,000 feet and the thickly forested setting blocked interference from rising air currents up the mountain. pic.twitter.com/1dJn9jew4I. See. The Dunn Solar Telescope a one-of-a-kind solar telescope that produces some of the sharpest images of the Sun available in the world. 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. Any seasonal cloud cover at the new site needed to arrive in the opposite season to that at Climax, in order to then provide for year-round coverage of the Sun. The AURA statement said: On September 7, 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 Sunspot telescope facility is located in Sunspot, New Mexico, and is part of the Lincoln National Forest on the western edge of the Sacramento Mountains. This is the Dunn Solar Telescope of the Sunspot Solar Observatory (SSO), a facility dedicated to studying the Sun. Sunspot Solar Observatory DirectorR.T. James McAteer also said: Last Thursday, we got a phone call in the morning from AURA who told us to say that they were temporarily evacuating the site and asked us to evacuate our people. Solar Dynamics Observatory. A mountaintop space observatory that is certified dark. This spot directly overlooks the Oliver Lee Memorial State Park in the valley down below. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). But would a mercury spill require the FBI to be involved? SDO is designed to help us understand the Sun's influence on Earth and Near-Earth space by studying the solar atmosphere on small scales of space and time and in many wavelengths simultaneously.
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