Alex Martin

32 years old. Vanlifer. Astronomer, sci-fi author. This world is beautiful.

[thehikingastronomer]

My new astronomy van! After experiencing a transmission failure, Alex abandoned his old van and found a larger, cheaper model with fewer miles. He completed its conversion quickly, enhancing his ability to teach astronomy....

My new astronomy van!

[shop5]

let’s be real the pressure to use AI as an adult is exactly what they said the pressure the do drugs as a teenager would be like but the people that told us that caved immediately for the AI and definitely did not just say no

[thehikingastronomer]

My van transmission went caput Welp, my van's transmission failed, the finale to a series of ongoing issues the past month. Though I may be down, I'm not out. Plus, June 12th is my 22nd writing anniversary!...

My van transmission went caput

[thehikingastronomer]

Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury, too! Mercury is currently visible below Jupiter and Venus after sunset. The upcoming conjunction of these planets, guaranteed to be seen without equipment, occurs June 8-10, 2026....

Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury, too!

[thehikingastronomer]

Two planets danced in the sky...

Look up the next 10 days to see a brilliant dance of the brightest planets in the evening sky. Support my mission, storytelling through travel, and free astronomy outreach with a tip on Ve1nmo or PayPal. And follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. I just crossed 1 year of living on the road full-time. Check out the recap of my journey, and join me for the next 365 days. Social media…

Two planets danced in the sky...

[thehikingastronomer]

I've had this particular Celestron NexStar 4SE since 2023, and it's been at the side of my larger telescopes all this time, sometimes coming handy in a pinch when another has to go in for maintenance.

I'm looking into getting a 6 or 8, maybe even a Dob again, but for now my 9.25 Evo will pull through on its own as we hit the road to Sedona and San Diego the next two weeks.

This telescope's grandest adventure was October 12th - 16th, 2023, when I flew it in carry-on luggage, then trekked it up to the rim of Crater Lake in an attempt to see the Annular Solar Eclipse (but clouds mostly blocked out the sight!)

It also captured the entirety of the April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse from Batesville, Indiana, another cross-country trek it endured for a magical moment.

Heres to the memories, sidekick. Now go show these kids some wonders.

[boomer-mythology-destroyer]

[uncle-beanbag-mojave]

DOINK

[mornington-the-crescent]

That sounded expensive.

[thehikingastronomer]

If you watched this without sound, you NEED to turn the sound on.

[thehikingastronomer]

1 year living on the road

I’ve officially been living on the road for one year! Let’s look back at what vanlife has been like through the months… Support my mission, storytelling through travel, and free astronomy outreach with a tip on Venmo or PayPal. And follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. Mark your calendars! Jupiter & Venus will be side-by-side in the western sky on June 8TH – 10TH. Find me back in San…

1 year living on the road

[thehikingastronomer]

Broken down in Astoria

Living on the road for nearly a year has been the adventure of a lifetime, but I’ve finally had the first big incident in the van. Support my mission, storytelling through travel, and free astronomy outreach with a tip on Venmo or PayPal. And follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. Mark your calendars! Jupiter & Venus will be side-by-side in the western sky on JUNE 8TH – 10TH. Find me…

Broken down in Astoria

[thehikingastronomer]

On the road to Oregon

San Diego gave us two great weeks of stargazing at Seaport Village – now it’s time for my first extended travel of the year. Support my mission, storytelling through travel, and free astronomy outreach with a tip on Venmo or PayPal. And follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. Mark your calendars! Jupiter & Venus will be side-by-side in the western sky on JUNE 8TH – 10TH. Find me back in…

On the road to Oregon

[thehikingastronomer]

Clouds? Time for a micro-adventure

A perk of being a traveling astronomer? Clouds. Because when it’s cloudy, I run away on micro-adventures. Support my mission, storytelling through travel, and free astronomy outreach with a tip on Venmo or PayPal. And follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. 71 minutes of sidewalk astronomy on Tuesday, April 28th Last night was my 96th sidewalk astronomy session of 2026. Everywhere I go,…

Clouds? Time for a micro-adventure

[thehikingastronomer]

Stargazing in San Diego, Round 3

Since my first visit to San Diego (ever!) in September 2025, I’ve developed a love for this city. It’s one of the friendliest I’ve been to, with a gorgeous marina park that offers a wide swath of sky for stargazing. Support my mission, storytelling through travel, and free astronomy outreach with a tip on Venmo or PayPal. And follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. 84 minutes of sidewalk…

Stargazing in San Diego, Round 3

[ode-on-a-grecian-butt]

[musdomus]

As good an answer as any.

[thehikingastronomer]

I HAVE EXTRA INFORMATION

So if you Google "Why are Japanese buns askew" Google's Ai now spits out these exact reasons because of this post and all of its "sources" are satire or social media sites from the same day as this Reddit post.

Ai is TRASH.

[dag--dag]

I’ve been lowkey obsessed with a hilarious photo @thescalex​ posted the other day, so I wanted to use it as watercolor practice.

[thehikingastronomer]

AHHHHHH THIS IS SO COOL OMG. Y'all this squirrel is famous now. I love this. The comedic exit.

[thehikingastronomer]

@dag--dag I need you to know there was a story about blurry animal pictures on Threads today and I resurrected the watercolor picture you drew of my squirrel running away in 2020 and people love it. Highest-liked comment on the entire Thread 😂

Anyway hope life is going well and that is a fun notification to see pop up that puts a little bright moment in your day 😊

[thehikingastronomer]

Sunset on the Eastern Sierra

Since leaving Sedona on April 9th, I’ve traveled through more of California than I ever have before, and after watching my gas mileage get shredded to bits on the uphill drive out of Death Valley, I came eye-to-eye with a sunset blazing against the eastern range of the Sierras. Support my mission, storytelling through travel, and free astronomy outreach with a tip on Venmo or PayPal. And follow…

Sunset on the Eastern Sierra

[thehikingastronomer]

"Copy, Moon Joy."

This generation’s Moon Moment has been a source of hope and inspiration the likes of which we have not felt in years. Support my mission, storytelling through travel, and free astronomy outreach with a tip on Venmo or PayPal. And follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. Find my March 3rd 2026 Lunar Eclipse Print for sale on my store. Artemis II has been the gift that keeps on giving. For…

"Copy, Moon Joy."

[salbertwolf]

Christina Koch (Mission Specialist), Artemis II - April 6th 2026