***   ***   ***

2020 Solstice Lantern Walk - cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions

We regret to say that Friends of Galileo Astronomy Club must cancel this year's Solstice Lantern Walk. We had hoped it would be a go, especially with the City of Longview itself hosting a Halloween event at the Lake.

However, the governor's latest directives shut down most outdoor activity until December 14. Even if all goes well by then, five days would not be a reasonable planning window for our December 19th event.

All of the sponsors we've been in touch with wanted to go ahead this year. Thank you for your support!

We hope to have our normal event in 2021. We may even have an extra summer event. Stay tuned!

The info below is for 2021.

***   ***   ***

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?

Join us for the 2021 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 balloon 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 planet.
  • Submit your photo of the event.
  • Enjoy a 3.7 billion mile stroll through our solar system as we celebrate the solstice!
Picture
Details

Where: meet at the marker for the Sun, south end of Lake Sacajawea Park. 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 18, 2021.
(The solstice is Dec. 21 but the walk will be on the Saturday before).

Cost: free!

Space Shuttle: round trip too long? No problem! We'll arrange our popular space shuttles for a quick drive between the Sun and Pluto.

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

These community groups participated in 2019 and we hope to see them again in 2021:


(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? 

We're a small club and we'd appreciate organizational help. Check our info page for volunteers.

Check our info page for sponsors if your group would like to sponsor a planet in 2021.

Contact Friends of Galileo with your name, contact info, and how you'd like to help. Thanks!

Past Solstice Lantern Walks

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 over 500 people walked the route. We even had Santa!

A wet week dried up just in time for our second annual Solstice Lantern Walk in 2019. We had more community groups take part, and more than half the route - more than half a mile! - was lined with luminaria to light your way through the solar system.