\u201cWe bring down the sky and the universe to the sidewalk for everyone to enjoy,\u201d said Gomez, who co-founded the group alongside his friend, Adam Green.<\/p>\n
Seeing life through a telescope has always been a calling for Gomez.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes me feel joyful,\u201d Gomez said, when asked about the response of the community to the group\u2019s meetings, held semiregularly on the corner of Mt. Pleasant and Irving streets in Northwest D.C.<\/p>\n
But Gomez may have to say goodbye to that joy \u2014 and to the group he helped form \u2014 if he can\u2019t find a permanent path to remaining in the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a tough situation,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n
How the US became Gomez\u2019s home<\/p>\n
At just 12 years old, Gomez and his mother moved to the U.S. from Venezuela on a temporary visa in 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother\u2019s a scientist,\u201d Gomez said. \u201cShe\u2019s got a master\u2019s in microbiology, and through an exchange program that she was able to get, we were able to come here.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2021, Gomez \u2014 who was 16 at the time \u2014 discovered his love for outer space and astronomy. The pair applied for temporary protected status to remain in the U.S. permanently.<\/p>\n
After four long years, he said it looked like everything was in order.<\/p>\n
But then his protected status was revoked by the Trump administration on Nov. 7.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe lose our protections, and we lose our legal status, or rather, our authorization to stay,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Gomez added that with recent tensions and escalations of war between the U.S. and Venezuela, it\u2019s a frightening time to even consider the possibility of leaving.<\/p>\n \u201cReturning to Venezuela is not an option. It\u2019s just it\u2019s not doable,\u201d he told WTOP.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s just the best neighborhood\u2019: Looking for a path forward<\/p>\n During an earlier interview with WTOP about the Sidewalk Astronomers, Gomez led us to a secret astrophotography art exhibit, located down a brick alleyway off Mount Pleasant Street.<\/p>\n In partnership with the D.C. art gallery Lost Origins, the exhibit showcases some of the incredible moments captured by the Sidewalk Astronomers on their adventures peering into outer space.<\/p>\n Eclipses, nebulas and even far-off galaxies are included in the gallery of photos taken by Gomez, Green and Bryan Vandrovec.<\/p>\n And this exhibit could hold part of the key to Gomez remaining in the US.<\/p>\n Through the Lost Origins gallery, and the National Capital Astronomers organization (who work with the Sidewalk Astronomers), anyone can buy mini prints<\/a> of the same astrophotography photos displayed on the streets of Mt. Pleasant \u2014 to support Gomez and his mother.<\/p>\n All of the revenue goes toward costs associated with visas for Gomez and his mother, which, as of the publishing of this article, will cost the pair around $30,000.<\/p>\n These visas would allow them to remain in the U.S. as a student and scientist, respectively.<\/p>\n \u201cI want Mount Pleasant to be the window to the universe from Washington, D.C.,\u201d Gomez told WTOP. \u201cIt\u2019s just the best neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n Gomez said he and his mother are currently in limbo, waiting to see if they get approved for the visas. Should the pair get approved, they\u2019ll have to raise the funds.<\/p>\n \u201cThe response has been overwhelmingly positive, to say the least,\u201d Gomez reflected.<\/p>\n With support from his community, Gomez told WTOP they\u2019ve already been able to raise a few thousand dollars through monetary donations\u00a0and proceeds from the art gallery.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s still quite a long way to go.<\/p>\n A teen dreams of \u2018educating people on the wonders of the night sky\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIn my ideal world, I\u2019m teaching astronomy in the future,\u201d Gomez said, adding, he wants to become an educator and make astronomy his life.<\/p>\n Gomez said he never thought he\u2019d ever be this close to realizing his dream. But the 19-year-old believes it could be possible, if he\u2019s allowed to remain in the U.S. to forge a path in pursuing his passion.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m educating people on the wonders of the night sky,\u201d he said, beaming. \u201cWe as humans are very special, and we live in a very, very special planet. I just want to operate telescopes \u2026 and I want to be the sidewalk astronomer.\u201d<\/p>\n In the Mount Pleasant community, which has a heavy Latin American immigrant population, Gomez and the Sidewalk Astronomers have become fixtures, fan-favorites and a constant presence of hope.<\/p>\n As he fights to remain in his home, the love he\u2019s poured into the neighborhood is one you can see reflected back at him \u2014 in every face, every exchange, every friendly gaze looking up into the unknown.<\/p>\n To learn more about the Sidewalk Astronomers gallery in Mount Pleasant,\u00a0head to Lost Origins\u2019 website<\/a>.<\/p>\n To purchase astrophotography prints in support of the Sidewalk Astronomers \u2014 and Gomez\u2019s journey to remain in the U.S. \u2014 go to the gallery\u2019s website<\/a>. In addition to prints, the Lost Origins website is collecting general donations, without purchase of a print, to fund costs associated with visas for the Gomez family.<\/p>\n Nighttime footage in this episode was used courtesy of D.C. filmmaker Jason Garza. Be on the lookout for his documentary on Gael, \u201cSecond Sunrise,\u201d to be released in 2026.<\/p>\n Hear \u201cMatt About Town\u201d first every Tuesday and Thursday on 103.5 FM!<\/strong><\/p>\n If you have a story idea you\u2019d like Matt to cover,\u00a0email him<\/a>, or chat with him on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0TikTok<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Check out all \u201cMatt About Town\u201d episodes\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a9 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.<\/p>\n ![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_7157-600x900.png\")
<\/a>CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE: An image of heart and soul nebulae is featured in the Sidewalk Astronomers\u2019 gallery. (Courtesy Pleasant Sidewalk Astronomers)<\/p>\n![\"Gael](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SIDEWALK-ASTRONOMERS-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a>Gael Gomez, 19, hopes to get a visa so he may continue pursuing his passion for astronomy in the U.S. (WTOP\/Matt Kaufax)<\/p>\n