The extraordinary Aurora of November inspired me to lead a Live Chase for anyone eager to catch the Northern Lights. An idea born in the Michigan Aurora Chasers community, these guided chases in the mid-latitudes let us guide people straight to the Aurora, whether they’ve enjoyed every display or they’re seeing the Northern Lights for the very first time!
The featured photo was taken on the evening of November 12, 2025, by Jen Boss Mainka, as guests of the #LiveChase watched the Northern Lights dance over a lake near Pinckney, Michigan. The state was almost completely clouded over the night before during the legendary G4 Storm, but we were grateful to catch this G3 Storm under starry skies!
It gives me so much joy and fulfillment to lead these guided chases. I feel like they bring out the best people who carry the brightest spirit of adventure. We always have a blast! I’m beyond honored to have the opportunity to guide people right to the Northern Lights.
On Wednesday night, leading the Live Chase meant being surrounded by nearly 200 people in a gorgeous recreation area with children, families and dogs, as we witnessed the most gorgeous night. I was a bit tired, but a G3 Storm was eminent, and I cannot think of a better way to spend a starry night! I wrote about the experience on my blog, where I’m firing up my writing and mentoring.
>> Go Beyond the Aurora on Substack!
When I stop to count how many chases I’ve led under strong Aurora, it’s amazing all the memories we’ve made together. The first Live Chase was inspired by a beloved friend and fellow chaser.
Teaming up with Michigan Aurora Chasers Admin “LiveChase Nate” Stovall, I led my first Live Chase on April 1, 2022 on the west side of Michigan, while he led a corresponding Live Chase on the east side of the state! It was funny because we announced the chase on April 1st, when everything thought we were fooling… But hundreds of people caught their first Aurora that night!
Since our first spontaneous event, I’ve led over 20 guided chases since 2021, including the Live Chase (where we can almost guarantee a sightings) and the Michigan Aurora Experience (where we plan an event well in advance with no idea what to expect from Earth or Space.) I think I first found the joy in guided chases at the annual Aurora Summit, where we help people seek out the Northern Lights every year. Soon, I’ll have led 40 or 50 guided chases, even with the challenge of catching Aurora in the lower latitudes.
It’s something I want to cherish, and commemorate, and make widely known on my platform, in case you too hope to attend a guided Aurora Chase one day! The best places to do this, in my world, are at the Aurora Summit or with the Michigan Aurora Chasers, by checking out our upcoming events.
>> Find Upcoming Events
For posterity — and maybe you were there (!) — below is a look back at my guided chases, through November 2025. I can’t wait for the next opportunity to lead you to the lights!
#LiveChase
- November 12, 2025, “Northern Lights Dance Nationwide #LiveChase”, Pinckney, Michigan, Hosted by Melissa F. Kaelin
- March 26, 2025, “Equinox Vibes: Roll the Dice #LiveChase,” Low Latitude, Brighton, Michigan, Hosted by Guide Melissa F. Kaelin (A Bust: A Powerful Aurora Stayed in Northern Michigan)
- October 10-11, 2024, Grindstone City, Michigan, Hosted by Guides Nate Stovall, Melissa F. Kaelin and Pandora Biskner
- September 12-13, 2024, Chases Across the State: Southeast Version: Low Latitude Chase, Brighton, Michigan, Guide Melissa F. Kaelin
- August 11-12, 2024, Glen Haven, Michigan, Hosted by Melissa Kaelin; Guides Kris Knutson, Christina Cantu Sharp, and Ethan Hohnke
- June 10, 2024, Statewide Live Chase Celebrating 100K Michigan Aurora Chasers, Little Sable Point Lighthouse, Pentwater, MI, Guide Melissa Kaelin
- May 10, 2024, Dexter, Michigan, Guide Melissa Kaelin
- September 18, 2023, Tawas City, Guide Melissa Kaelin
- August 17, 2022, St. Johns, Michigan, Guide Melissa Kaelin (A Bust: Unfavorable Bz!)
- July 22, 2022, Au Train, Michigan, Guides Nate Stovall, Melissa Kaelin and Chase Nawrocki
- First #LiveChase: April 1, 2022, West Side Live Chase, Glen Haven, MI, Guide Melissa Kaelin
Selected Other Events
- Aurora Experience — July 25, 2025, Au Train, Michigan (Cancelled due to wildfire smoke)
- Aurora Experience — May 3. 2025, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Haven, Michigan
- Aurora Experience — May 30, 2025, Wilderness State Park, Mackinaw City, Michigan
- SolarMax Mission Observation Night — April 2, 2025 (Cancelled due to destructive ice storm)
- 1st Michigan Aurora Experience — April 24, 2025, Point Betsie Lighthouse, Frankfort, Michigan,
- Beaver Island International Dark Sky Sanctuary — June 20-23, 2025, Beaver Island, Michigan
- Astronomy on the Beach — September 21, 2024, Maybury State Park, Northville, Michigan
- The Annual Aurora Summit — Annual group chases from 2013 to Present (Except 2020)
- Great Lakes Aurora & Dark-sky Jamboree (GLAD Jam) — September 11-14, 2025, Houghton, Michigan
- Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival — Annual group experiences from 2023-2024
melissa f. kaelin 
I’d never heard of “Aurora Chasing,” but I love the idea. (Much more appealing than chasing tornados!) I saw the Aurora for the first time this week—I’ve always thought I lived too far south, but we got that awesome sight here after all. 🙂