The International Meteor Organization, the not-for-profit that collaborates and releases amateur and expert observations of meteor phenomena, stated its facilities has actually suffered a “important blow” from a cyberattack.

“We just recently suffered a cyberattack that dealt a vital blow to aging facilities, taking much of our website offline,” a fixed page on its site on Wednesday stated. “We anticipate a number of weeks of partial downtime as we shift to brand-new facilities and services.”

“I am really unfortunate to see the website down”

In the meantime, the IMO stated it’s focusing on the reporting of fireball observations, which can be reported here. The company is likewise supplying some info on its Facebook page.

The IMO has actually assisted create combined requirements for reporting meteor observations. Its databases of reported meteor and fireball observations– comprised of text, images, and videos– are likewise thought about necessary by numerous in the field. The IMO likewise releases the bimonthly WGN journal, which in English is brief for Working Group News. The body was officially established in 1988.

It’s uncertain why a company that tracks big, intense area items speeding towards Earth would be the target of a destructive cyberattack. It’s similarly uncertain why somebody would wish to take its information (presuming that was the intention), which is primarily public.