According to local media, the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, NM has been closed since last Thursday, along with the nearby post office, and employees affected have no idea why.
The FBI has since showed up to the site and Blackhawk helicopters have been seen circling overhead, but officials remain tight-lipped as to what’s going on, saying only that they are ’addressing a security issue.’
The mysterious activity has sparked conspiracy theories across the internet given its alignment with with this week's solar storm.
The facility is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), and has been vacant since September 6.
It’s been nearly a week since the initial evacuation, but no details have been released.
Last week, a spokesperson for AURA told the Alamogordo Daily News that they evacuated as a ’precautionary measure.’
Otero County Sheriff Benny House revealed that even local law enforcement has been kept in the dark, despite being told to stand by.
’The FBI is refusing to tell us what’s going on,’ House told Alamogordo Daily News.