He shares the 'wonders of the night sky' with DC. But this young immigrant may be forced to leave the US

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He shares the ‘wonders of the night sky’ with DC. But this young immigrant may be forced to leave the US

Matt Kaufax | [e-mail]
December 8, 2025, 5:55 AM

For 19-year-old Gael Gomez, the Mount Pleasant Sidewalk Astronomers is a group that has changed his life for the better in many ways. /// “We bring down the sky and the universe to the sidewalk for everyone to enjoy,” said Gomez, who co-founded the group alongside his friend, Adam Green.

Seeing life through a telescope has always been a calling for Gomez. ... The 19-year-old can often be spotted towing his homemade Newtonian-style lens around town, bringing smiles to the faces of neighbors who stop by to hang with the Sidewalk Astronomers whenever they congregate.

“It makes me feel joyful,” Gomez said, when asked about the response of the community to the group’s meetings, held semiregularly on the corner of Mt. Pleasant and Irving streets in Northwest D.C.

But Gomez may have to say goodbye to that joy — and to the group he helped form — if he can’t find a permanent path to remaining in the United States. ... “It’s a tough situation,” he admitted.

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Gael Gomez, 19, hopes to get a visa so he may continue pursuing his passion for astronomy in the U.S. (WTOP/Matt Kaufax)

To learn more about the Sidewalk Astronomers gallery in Mount Pleasant, head to Lost Origins’ website.

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Matt Kaufax
If there's an off-the-beaten-path type of attraction, person or phenomenon in the D.C. area that you think more people should know about, Matt is your guy. An award-winning reporter for WTOP, he's always on the hunt for stories that provide a unique local flavor—a slice of life if you will.
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