Jorge Martinez steps down as maintainer of the project

Dear community,

I want to share with you that, due to professional commitments, I have made the decision to step down from my role as a maintainer of the poliastro project.

Rather than delving into the specific circumstances that led to this choice, I'd like to take this opportunity to offer inspiration to new developers who are considering joining the vibrant world of free and open-source software.

Looking back to December 2018, shortly after the holiday season, I can vividly recall the excitement of having my first pull request for poliastro merged. It was an exhilarating moment, as it marked the first time in months that I truly felt my contributions were making a meaningful impact, being valued and utilized by others.

Throughout my journey, Juan Luis Cano Rodríguez, an exceptional mentor, has provided invaluable guidance. His meticulous code reviews have been a wellspring of insights that greatly enriched my learning experience. I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the generous time and effort he invested in teaching and mentoring me.

My tenure with poliastro not only allowed me to develop astro-related skills but also opened doors to larger opportunities. As a recipient of the Google Summer of Code, I had the privilege of receiving compensation for my software development contributions, marking a significant milestone in my journey, especially as a student at that time.

I devoted countless nights to coding and learning, expanding my horizons beyond the realm of astrophysics. One such passion is my fascination with Linux, a topic that I find equally captivating.

As I take this step back, I encourage you all to consider embracing open-source projects like poliastro. The journey is rewarding, providing not only technical growth but also a strong sense of community and purpose. New contributors, your efforts can truly make a difference, just as mine did when I started on this remarkable journey.

With gratitude and optimism,

Jorge Martinez