Tired of the dark already?
Help us light up the longest night of the year!
Join us for Longview's annual Solstice Lantern Walk Through the Solar System.
In 2001, Friends of Galileo Astronomy Club gave the City of Longview a model solar system. It includes ten granite markers along 1.64 miles on the west side of Lake Sacajawea. The markers show the relative sizes and distances of the Sun and planets - how far apart are the planets if our solar system is scaled to Lake Sacajawea?
In 2018, we had our first annual Solstice Lantern Walk from the Sun to Pluto. What a great event! We had clear skies, a full moon, and 400 - 500 people walk the route. We even had Santa! Check out the 2018 Highlights or see our pages for Volunteers and Sponsors.
Join us for the 2019 Solstice Lantern Walk
We will bring some light and cheer to the longest night of the year, and celebrate the return of longer days. Meet some of the small organizations that make Longview a great place to live.
Let’s celebrate the return of longer days, and warm up the start of winter by meeting new friends!
Help us light up the longest night of the year!
Join us for Longview's annual Solstice Lantern Walk Through the Solar System.
In 2001, Friends of Galileo Astronomy Club gave the City of Longview a model solar system. It includes ten granite markers along 1.64 miles on the west side of Lake Sacajawea. The markers show the relative sizes and distances of the Sun and planets - how far apart are the planets if our solar system is scaled to Lake Sacajawea?
In 2018, we had our first annual Solstice Lantern Walk from the Sun to Pluto. What a great event! We had clear skies, a full moon, and 400 - 500 people walk the route. We even had Santa! Check out the 2018 Highlights or see our pages for Volunteers and Sponsors.
Join us for the 2019 Solstice Lantern Walk
We will bring some light and cheer to the longest night of the year, and celebrate the return of longer days. Meet some of the small organizations that make Longview a great place to live.
- Bring the family.
- Dress for the weather.
- Bring headlamps and lanterns and flashlights.
- Look for Santa!
Let’s celebrate the return of longer days, and warm up the start of winter by meeting new friends!
- Get your solar system passport stamped as you reach each planet.
- Vote for the best-lit planet.
- Submit your photo of the event.
- Enjoy a 3.7 billion mile stroll through our solar system as we celebrate the solstice!
Details
Where: meet at the marker for the Sun, south end of Lake Sacajawea Park (map below). Walk at your own pace to the marker for Pluto 1.64 miles north (or 3.7 billion miles, according to our model!)
When: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM on Saturday, December 21, 2019.
Cost: free!
Space Shuttle: round trip too long? No problem! This year we will have not one but TWO space shuttles buses run between the Sun and Pluto. Start at either end. (Thank you, Phil Sari of Columbia Ford!).
Changes: check here from time to time for updates, or check our Facebook page. We're working with the City of Longview and participating groups to arrange this awesome event, and details will evolve.
Where: meet at the marker for the Sun, south end of Lake Sacajawea Park (map below). Walk at your own pace to the marker for Pluto 1.64 miles north (or 3.7 billion miles, according to our model!)
When: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM on Saturday, December 21, 2019.
Cost: free!
Space Shuttle: round trip too long? No problem! This year we will have not one but TWO space shuttles buses run between the Sun and Pluto. Start at either end. (Thank you, Phil Sari of Columbia Ford!).
Changes: check here from time to time for updates, or check our Facebook page. We're working with the City of Longview and participating groups to arrange this awesome event, and details will evolve.
Planetary sponsors
Each of these community groups will have a table along your path through the solar system:
- The Sun - Friends of Galileo Astronomy Club (friendsofgalileo.com)
- Mercury - Kelso Freemasons Lodge #94 (bluelodge-wa.org/kelso94/our_lodge.htm)
- Venus - Girl Scouts of Western Washington (girlscoutsww.org)
- Earth - Three Rivers Christian School (https://3riversschool.net/)
- Mars - Shinju Dojo Aikido (shinjudojo.com)
- Jupiter - Longview Freemasons Lodge #263 (longviewlodge.org)
- Saturn - The Lilac Academy for Bright and Curious Girls
- Uranus - Boy Scouts of America, Cascade Pacific Council (cpcbsa.org)
- Sacajawea - Kauble Piano Studio (http://kaublepianostudio.com/)
- Neptune - Mount St. Helens Hiking Club (mtsthelensclub.org)
- Pluto - Rose City Astronomers, all the way from Portland (rosecityastronomers.net)
(We know Sacajawea isn't a planet, but it's her park and we think she'd like to participate.)
We are talking with other groups and will update this page when they confirm participation.
How can you make this a great event? Check our info page for sponsors or our info page for volunteers and then contact Friends of Galileo with your name, contact info, and how you'd like to help.
And be sure to share our event poster!