Sunspot Solar Observatory Closed After Mercury Spill, Reviving Memories of 2018 Shutdown

The Sunspot Solar Observatory in Otero County remained closed more than 20 days after liquid mercury was discovered on the platform of its main telescope, the Albuquerque Journal reports. The spill forced the shutdown of the facility, its visitor center and nearby hiking and picnic areas, and officials gave no timeline for reopening.

According to a public notice, two New Mexico State University researchers found an unspecified amount of liquid mercury on Jan. 5 while working inside the tower that houses the Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope. Safety protocols were put in place to protect personnel and begin cleanup. A spokesperson for the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, which manages the facility, said the leak was contained within the building but declined to discuss cleanup protocols or whether a cause had been found. Officials said only that the incident poses no risk to the public.

The telescope’s 250-ton platform floats on 120 gallons of liquid mercury, which acts as a low-friction bearing so the optical system can rotate smoothly and stay aligned with the sun, according to the observatory’s website. The U.S. Air Force built the telescope in 1969. Mercury is a highly toxic neurotoxin, and exposure, particularly through inhaling its vapor, can pose serious health risks.

The closure revived attention to the observatory’s 2018 shutdown, when it closed for 11 days after armed federal agents arrived. Federal authorities later said that closure was tied to an investigation into a janitor accused of using the observatory’s internet connection to solicit child sexual abuse material, and officials stressed it had no connection to the observatory’s scientific work.

Editor’s note: Updated Oct. 31, 2026. This story is now part of Daily Reports, our New Mexico news roundup, and was revised to credit the Albuquerque Journal’s original reporting. Learn how Daily Reports works in our editorial standards.