Instead, the facility made headlines because it and the small surrounding town had been evacuated, because, rumors said, it had been shut down by the FBI. NASA Catches Ring Of Fire Eclipse From Space. Enter Lisa Kite Hill, who works in Las Cruces for the Albuquerque Field Office. When she confronted him about suspected child sexual abuse material an onsite investigation was then revealing on his thumb drive, he asked which one. Subscribe today for ourWeekly Newsletterin your inbox! They would have had enough information that a United States Attorney's Office approved the "raid" or search of the site. The sudden unexplained closure by the FBI of the National Solar Observatory (NSO) in Sunspot, New Mexico, has prompted theories about the reason as law enforcement keep schtum. Cope did not testify. Nobody would really elaborate on any of the circumstances as to why. The history showed suspicious activity dating back to that January. Something was going down, she said, and Mr. Gilliam knew that., Agent Hill, she continued, failed to investigate the most obvious suspect in this case.. What their purpose was nobody will say.. Five of the flash drives, the RCFLs analysis later revealed, had been plugged into the roving laptop in 2018. The jury shuffled to their seats Wednesday afternoon for their instructionsincluding one about the states errors in handling evidenceand the attorneys closing statements. The observatory was shut on September 6, and more than a week later with no sign of re-opening, authorities are still showing no leeway. Only one persons activity was found to correlate with the trail of online activity. We pay for your stories! Weve got people up there (at Sunspot) that requested us to standby while they evacuate it. There is currently a working telescope at the observatory, where New Mexico State University also conducts research. On August 21, they told her about a man whod found a roving, running laptop in the facility. . Universal Images Group/Getty Images file . They parked in the shade and kept the car, and its AC, running. That evening, a storm rolled into Alamogordo, thousands of feet below. The way to the visitors center, shut for the night, was blocked off. The community, at least on one dark night when trial wrapped up for the evening, was cloistered. Some things, Esquibel noted in hers, hide in plain sight: In this case, that would include both a person, Joshua Cope, and an object, a laptop. The two partial videos, which the prosecution played for the court, did indeed, and definitively, not show puppies or kittens. Hill and her partner interviewed Cope for two recorded hours, during which Hill says he denied the allegations, sometimes changing his statements, but admitted to once moving the laptop from a chair, to stop it from overheating. I cant trust the fact that I dont remember any of this going on, he said. Last week an observatory in New Mexico was mysteriously shut down by the FBI, with the Internet going wild with speculation as to why. One person wrote on public talk board 4Chan: Forums are talking about it being a super-flare strong enough to turn the surface of the planet into an uninhabitable wasteland. No one else heard these conversations, Gilliam told the defense. Shareaza is a peer-to-peer file-sharing client that lets users download files from multiple peer-to-peer networks, including the popular BitTorrent protocol and Gnutella. The National Solar Observatory (NSO) is a United States public research institute to advance the knowledge of the physics of the Sun.NSO studies the Sun both as an astronomical object and as the dominant external influence on Earth.NSO is headquartered in Boulder and operates facilities at two locations - at the 4-meter Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in the Haleakala Observatory on the . The supervisor asked him how operations were going. With little delay, they found Cope guilty of two counts of child-pornography possession, and one count of distribution. Pea regularly uses law-enforcement software to search for people who are sharing files suspected to contain child sexual abuse materiallooking for file hash values and names known to be associated with underage exploitation. Hill took photos of the device with her FBI-issued phone, and determined to keep it in the state it was: on, up and running. US space centre FINALLY reveals why it suddenly closed without explanation but will the alien sighting conspiracy theorists buy it? 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, they said. The official line given was security reasons but local law enforcement in Sunspot, New Mexico, and workers at the the observatory have no idea what is going on. Things that belonged to him were missing, and he should be able to, say, throw a laptop down if he wanted. When he started becoming erratic and potentially dangerous, the FBI took the decision to evacuate the observatory to be on the safe side. But maybe part of the problem is that there isnt enough sunlight, in general, on the goings-on of places like Sunspot. But is failed to stem speculation by not revealing what the security threat actually was. In an excerpt of that recording played for the court, Cope admitted the thumb drives belonged to him. The fifth and final appearance was August 21, 2018. Was there a time when you located something that was unusual? the prosecutor, Roxeanne Esquibel, asked him. You remember Limewire. Unsealed FBI documents have however revealed that the closure was due to an investigation of child pornography. This is the sites flagship instrument, housed in a pyramidal white building that rises 136 feet above the ground, the structure diving around 220 more feet below. . AURA added that evacuating staff was the most "prudent and effective action". He, in turn, expressed concern that his mother wouldnt love him. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. The full details of what happened at the Sunspot Solar Observatory in 2018 finally came out at trial. We offer you the possibility to receive RT's news highlights every Monday, Wednesday and Friday by email. The National Solar Observatory was notified of what was going on, and they tried to help localize the problem, and shut down certain wifi networks for a period of time. . As he drove home that night, he recalled thinking, Obviously, that first image was not good for the workplace. The fact that a picture of a kid, though clothed, came right after gave him pause, but he didnt think it was illegal. In the defenses cross-examination, Gilliams strange-seeming reticence came up. It was our decision to evacuate the facility, spokeswoman Shari Lifson added. The argument didnt fly with the prosecution. AURA apologized on Sunday, September 16 in a statement for the lack of information at the time. With that statement of potential self-harm, Hill said she had to take him to the hospital. What their purpose was nobody will say.. Our other facilities are open and NSO is operating as normal. This has led to conspiracy theorists believing a SUPER FLARE is on its way which could wipe out humanity and the FBI is not revealing this as they do not want the public to panic. The remote research center in Sacramento Peak is part of the National Solar Observatory, an institution which runs several solar telescopes, including the New Mexico site, one at Big Bear. It re-opened on Monday, September 17. mask He replaced the laptop and moved on. At first, he didnt recognize the picture that appeared, till he rotated the device. . The road to the telescopes was, meanwhile, for authorized vehicles only. The sheriff also claimed there was a Blackhawk helicopter at the site and work crews on towers and around antennas. It was the FBIs domain. This means satellite signals would struggle to penetrate the swollen atmosphere, leading to a lack of internet service, GPS navigation, satellite TV such as Sky and mobile phone signal. The BBC made up a story about a Russian 'attack' on a Ukrainian city's water supply where are the 'fake news' fact checkers? In his investigation, though, Durham also checked out evidence seized from another location: Copes residence, where he lived in a be-porched trailer on the familys property. ShareazaLE lets agents like Pea find instances of people sharing suspected child sexual abuse material. National Solar Observatory, Sacramento Peak, New Mexico, 2009. It is just, in fact, what happened, and simple at least in relative terms because it involves hard sciencethat of molecules, electromagnetism, fluid dynamics, photonsand no humans or their hard drives. https://t.co/PxSqGadYf1, Sunspot Observatory closed due to security issue. On September 14, 2018, agents showed up at the Cope residence. The FBI has not responded to requests for comment on the matter, according to local media. The mysterious 11-day closure of a New Mexico solar observatory stemmed from an FBI investigation of a janitor suspected of using the facility's . Apache Point Observatory is about 1 mile from Sunspot and is worth a . Over the course of three days, witnesses from the observatory, the Cope family, the FBI, the New Mexico District Attorneys office, and the New Mexico State University Police Department testified about events and evidence surrounding the Sunspot happenings from years ago. And thats when Gilliams phone rang. August 20, 2021 LUFOS Conspiracy, Latest posts, N. America, NASA 1 FBI agents in Blackhawk helicopters swoop on the Sunspot Solar Observatory in New Mexico and close the facility down for ten days. : Mindshifting Moments #17, Overcoming the Healthcare Staffing Shortage Through Back-Office Automation, Investment to Underpin Position as Europes Leading Real World Data Provider and Enabler of Personalized Precision Medicine BC Platforms (BCP), a global, STRADVISION, an AI-based vision perception technology company, has announced astrategic company reorganizationthat introduces respective Account Management, Due to the pandemic, decentralised trial solutions made the shift from an emerging trend to a crucial element The National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico has been closed since last Thursday. The Washington Post reported that Starrs denials were shattered by his own FBI reports. And it has now re-opened from my understanding. Because the IP address led back to Sunspot, though, this activity wasnt actually New Mexicos concern: Sunspot is a federal facility. The Sunspot Solar Observatory no longer faces a security threat to [] In court, the prosecution played a representative sample of the videos. It was hot, as it tends to be in the Tularosa Basin that time of year. He was older, and had worked at Sunspot for two decades: It was unlikely that he would suddenly start downloading contraband in 2018. While Durham didnt find anything to point to owners real name, Shareaza was indeed installed aboard, and set to distribute content to other usersand inside two of its folders were 25 videos of suspected child sexual abuse material. The spotlight was shown on the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot on Sept. 6, 2018, when it was evacuated with the facility's website . ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) The mysterious closure of a solar observatory in New Mexico earlier this month happened after the FBI opened a child pornography investigation involving a janitor's computer found at the observatory, and agents tracked wireless signals used to access child porn, according to an FBI search warrant affidavit. The FBI is refusing to tell us whats going on. The fourth time Gilliam discovered the Lenovo, he was cleaning a large room where telescope equipment lived. Last Thursday, September 6th, the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico, was evacuated and closed, with the only reason given being "security concerns." The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) claims to have ordered the evacuation. That could mean it was updating itself in the background, since the computer was running.. Two hours after Hill took possession of the Lenovo, Durham found, it also connected to two other wifi networks. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. There is thus no record, beyond memory and testimony, of what went on over the next hour. That sounds like a metaphor, but its not, not really. FBI investigators investigate crimes. I never reported this to anyone, he told Esquibel. The observatory, in Lincoln National Forest, about 170 miles south of Albuquerque, is home to the Dunn Solar Telescope. Some theorists said the FBI would have swiftly moved in on the centre to remove any evidence. The laptop, Hill testified, was never fingerprinted. On September 6, 2018, federal agents identified in many media stories as belonging to the FBI swooped down on a solar observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico and ordered all scientists and personnel at this location to evacuate in haste. Over at the FBI, Hill had obtained a warrant to search the computer, which made its way, still running, to the agencys Regional Computer Forensics Lab (RCFL) on September 11. All of this with no stated action on his part. Last Thursday, the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico was closed to the public and evacuated for reasons that remain unclear. The report said that the FBI was investigating the activities of an individual who was utilizing the wireless internet service of the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico, to download and distribute child pornography.. The National Solar Observatory in Sunspot was closed a week ago, as was the town's post office, for reasons reported to be security-related. There was. He is currently awaiting sentencing. However according to ABC7, the federal agency told Sheriff House that the evacuation order could remain in place for several days. The official line given was "security reasons" but local law . One day, in May 2018, when he was fixing the computer of an emeritus researcher, Gilliam noticed a light between the desktop tower and the wall. Looking back on it, Gilliam said, yes, probably.. Sep 13, 2018 #10 HKShooter65 . That activity had continued, and he continued to log it. And we would drive as fast as we could, she said. Re: Solar Observatory Evacuated, FBI Involved, Sunspot, NM. Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Strange object spotted over NC. And there, they found the kinds of things theyd come for: 20-30 thumb drives and media cards, along with other computers, in Copes trailer and a car he drove. Its unclear when the observatory and the post office will reopen. Not long after, the public learned that the investigation dealt with the dissemination of child sexual abuse material, from a Sunspot network. The National Solar Observatory was notified of what was going on, and they tried to help localize the problem, and shut down certain wifi networks for a period of time. Now, the FBI is essentially saying "case closed." . device This time, he testified, it was on the floor under a deskwith LEDs indicating it was powered up, but showing no display. All Rights Reserved. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. The National Solar Observatory said on Twitter last month: Thank you for your patience while the closure at Sunspot Observatory is resolved. Neither the FBI, nor officials at the observatory, nor. You can share this story on social media: Subscribe to RT newsletter to get news highlights of the day right in your mailbox, FILE PHOTO: DKIST telescope National Solar Observatory, Ukraine nationalizes company of one-time Zelensky backer, American pundits have got it backwards about China, 'Putin ally' apparently trolls western media, Poland to expand US air base Defense Minister, EU member wont support joint Ukraine aid effort. Gilliam, still not having said anything, soon moved on to sorting cables. https://t.co/BTGwEwNTah. © 2022 IFLScience. In early September 2018, though, Sunspot Solar Observatory broke into the national consciousness, and not for a stellar scientific discovery. REUTERS/Edgar Su On Friday morning, the NSO broke its silence on the. Staff members at the world-famous site in, New Mexico, were told to immediately leave the building last month. The FBI were up there. A statement read: "AURA has been cooperating with an on-going law enforcement investigation of criminal activity that occurred at Sacramento Peak. Speculation did its thing: Perhaps the instruments on the peak had gotten too close to a good secretwhether that was of an alien presence, or goings-on at nearby military installations. Unbeknownst to Gilliam, state and federal investigators had been training their own lenses on Sunspot, and the digital traffic flowing from it, for a while. The . DKIST will provide even more. FBI records obtained by Reuters said that theSunspot Solar Observatory, part of the National Solar Observatory on Sacramento Peak, was shut down due to criminal activity, specifically a child porn investigation. More info. After the laptop disappeared into an evidence vault, Gilliam said, he took note of some human behavior: Cope was frantic. Upset about the locked doors. Autonomous Nonprofit Organization TV-Novosti, 20052022. We pay for videos too. Gain of pain? Otero County Sheriff, Benny House, said: The FBI is refusing to tell us whats going on. A spokesperson for the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) which manages the observatory said the evacuation was a precautionary measure due to a security issue. The 'Time of Troubles' and the birth of the nation: Why Russia celebrates its 'Unity Day' every November 4. The Sunspot Solar Observatory in New Mexico was closed, along with a local post office, September 6th due to a 'security issue,' according to Association of Universities . The Sunspot Solar Observatory facility at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico, has been temporarily shut down at the insistence of the FBI. Hill wanted to get that laptop, so she asked Gilliam if he could find a reason to shut down the Sunspot facility while she came to grab it. 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"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.". 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. In an affidavit, an FBI agent wrote that she was looking at the "activities of an individual who was utilizing the wireless internet service of the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico, to download and distribute child pornography."After authorities seized a laptop computer in the facility with images of child pornography, the . On September 7, the Alamogordo Daily News reported that the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico, had been evacuated and "temporarily closed due to a security issue at the facility." "During this time, we became concerned that a suspect in the investigation potentially posed a threat to the safety of local staff and residents. The facility was raided by the FBI who arrived in blackhawk helicopters - and has been closed ever since. An employee and resident of the National Solar Observatory set up a tent, far right, near the entrance Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, in Sunspot, N.M. The mysterious and sudden closure of the National Solar Observatory in New Mexico is sending alien hunters into a frenzy as the facility remains shut without explanation. , I'm not saying it's aliens, buthttps://t.co/rX1ESF5PQX, Something is happening with the sun. Staff will soon be allowed to go back to the facility, and it will open again with added security. One of those people was special agent Owen Pea, from the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit. IFLScience The Big Questions: How Does Our Diet Impact The Body's Ability To Fight Disease? FBI Reveals Why It Shut Down the New Mexico Solar Observatory By Ewan Palmer On 9/20/18 at 6:10 AM EDT U.S. September 13, 2018, 4:32 PM. During this time, we became concerned that a suspect in the investigation potentially posed a threat to the safety of local staff and residents. If he heard anyone asking about the laptop, get back in touch with the FBI. The National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New . "For this reason, AURA temporarily vacated the facility and ceased science activities at this location.". ABC-7 Monday spoke with Shari Lifson, who is with AURA, the company that co-manages the Observatory with NMSU. The mystery surrounding the 11-day closure of the National Solar Observatory. The research institute in Sunspot was evacuated last Thursday along with a nearby United States Postal Service office for unexplained security reasons.. Read RT Privacy policy to find out more. Fearing the person might pose a danger, the decision was made to shut the observatory. It didnt matter what he did, Hill recalled telling him, his motherin court that daywould love him. Sun Spot Solar Observatory Raid By FBI THE TRUTH RIGHT HEREUpdate*Source: sun pictures FULL CREDIT to Gina Maria Colvin Hill https://www.facebook.com/maria.g.
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