Officers atop scientific facility make out (7)

I believe the answer is:

discern

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'make out' is the definition.
(I know that make out can be written as discern)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for discern that I've seen before include "Cinders (anag)" , "Pick out" , "Detect" , "spot" , "See" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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