5 ms·

Since it's the FBI, then it's probably a domestic threat. Given the huge show of force, my guess is armed extremists threatening to take it over? This is pure

by jbob2000 8y ago

Since it's the FBI, then it's probably a domestic threat. Given the huge show of force, my guess is armed extremists threatening to take it over? This is pure speculation, but I think this QAnon/whitehouse leaker stuff is driving people mad and in the coming years, we'll see rebel groups forming and doing more of this.

LyndsySimon 8y ago
> my guess is armed extremists threatening to take it over? ... why?
- dvh 8y ago
  350 pounds (or 10 tons? Actual amount is unknown) of mercury
  - SEJeff 8y ago
    350 pounds of stupid
  - yasp 8y ago
    Do observatories usually have hundreds of pounds of mercury?
    - theoctopus 8y ago
      Some observatories (including this one it seems) use liquid mercury as mirrors: https://sunspot.solar/about/ https://sunspot.solar/about/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_mirror_telescope https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_mirror_telescope
  - openasocket 8y ago
    OK, I'll bite: why would extremists want a whole bunch of mercury?
    - AnimalMuppet 8y ago
      It's a useful ingredient in some explosives.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
  - LyndsySimon 8y ago
    ... as far as I know, mercury isn't a restricted product and can be shipped to your door. Here's a video of a guy flushing 240# of mercury down a toilet (NOT connected to a sewer or septic system), just to see if it was possible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvVaaZ21C44 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvVaaZ21C44 It's not exactly difficult to find industrial users of mercury, and the mercury at Sunspot is in a sealed instrument. I see no reason why the presence of mercury there would be incentive for an "armed group" to attempt to assault and/or hold the observatory.
    - amdavidson 8y ago
      Why is he not wearing gloves?!
      - LyndsySimon 8y ago
        I'm no expert here, but is metallic mercury that much of a hazard? I thought it was the vapor that was the big risk with handling mercury. Obviously, I'd be sure of that before I handled it :)
        acct1771 8y ago
        Believe so. See: mad hatters
  - dsnuh 8y ago
    For reference, 350 lbs is about 3 gallons of liquid mercury. Mercury is heavy.

LyndsySimon 8y ago

> my guess is armed extremists threatening to take it over? ... why?

dvh 8y ago
350 pounds (or 10 tons? Actual amount is unknown) of mercury
- SEJeff 8y ago
  350 pounds of stupid
- yasp 8y ago
  Do observatories usually have hundreds of pounds of mercury?
  - theoctopus 8y ago
    Some observatories (including this one it seems) use liquid mercury as mirrors: https://sunspot.solar/about/ https://sunspot.solar/about/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_mirror_telescope https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_mirror_telescope
- openasocket 8y ago
  OK, I'll bite: why would extremists want a whole bunch of mercury?
  - AnimalMuppet 8y ago
    It's a useful ingredient in some explosives.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- LyndsySimon 8y ago
  ... as far as I know, mercury isn't a restricted product and can be shipped to your door. Here's a video of a guy flushing 240# of mercury down a toilet (NOT connected to a sewer or septic system), just to see if it was possible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvVaaZ21C44 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvVaaZ21C44 It's not exactly difficult to find industrial users of mercury, and the mercury at Sunspot is in a sealed instrument. I see no reason why the presence of mercury there would be incentive for an "armed group" to attempt to assault and/or hold the observatory.
  - amdavidson 8y ago
    Why is he not wearing gloves?!
    - LyndsySimon 8y ago
      I'm no expert here, but is metallic mercury that much of a hazard? I thought it was the vapor that was the big risk with handling mercury. Obviously, I'd be sure of that before I handled it :)
      - acct1771 8y ago
        Believe so. See: mad hatters
- dsnuh 8y ago
  For reference, 350 lbs is about 3 gallons of liquid mercury. Mercury is heavy.