Welcome to My Adventures
It’s the travel, growth, and most of all, the people that make a year unforgettable. I’m thankful to know so many talented and insightful humans, and I’m excited to see what adventures the universe will bring!
A Word for 2025: Expressive
The Latest Uplifts from the Universe
Hei, Norway! It’s hard to believe I am embarking to chase #AuroraAtSea on Thursday, October 9th, as we sail on a Northern Lights Promise cruise from the Hurtigruten!
Lake Day. It’s a gorgeous week to share a gorgeous lake, and I can’t wait to entertain some of my dearest loves this week.
Elio, the Sun Dog, in the Sunset. Playing fetch on a perfect evening, after a perfect three-day streak of catching the Aurora at the 42nd Parallel right in my backyard. Oh, I am so fortunate. It’s going to be a great season!
Nature makes me want to write. And so I have. I began in mid-August by journaling again. Now, the creativity is flowing on my blog on Substack: BeyondTheAurora.substack.com
Visited by two cardinals and a dragonfly. It’s as if the universe has a message it’s trying to send my way, as I watched the cardinal on my doorstep and then again on my new doorstep. Then watched a dragonfly on my living room wall. I’m listening…
Last Update: October 3, 2025
What’s New & Inspiring
Latest Creative Highlights
A Travel Log: Selected Destinations
Jun 2024 — Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin √
Oct 2024 — Apostle Islands, Wisconsin √
Nov 2024 — Rekjavik and Akuyreri, Iceland √
Dec 2024 — Washington, D.C. √
Jan 2025 — New Orleans, Louisiana √
Feb 2025 — Cincinnati, Ohio √
Mar 2025 — Yellowknife, Canada √
Apr 2025 — Point Betsie Light, Northern Michigan √
May 2025 — Mackinaw City, Michigan √
Jun 2025 — Beaver Island Dark Sky Sanctuary, Michigan √
Sep 2025 — Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan √
Oct 2025 — Arctic Cruise, Norway
Nov 2025 — Bayfield, Wisconsin
Dec 2025 — New Orleans, Louisiana (Again!)
Jan 2026 — Houston, Texas
Feb 2026 — Magnificent Finland with U-M Alumni Travel!
Pictured: Hiking along the continental divide at Þingvellir National Park in Selfoss, Iceland, November 2024.
In Pursuit of a Dream: I’m Only Halfway There!
As a writer at heart, a soulful nature lover, and a dreamer, I’ll never stop chasing after what I want most! The truth is I have far to go to accomplish my childhood dreams, but the trick is to savor the journey.
- The Novel is the Thing! It’s time to get back to writing in 2025. Memoir, you say?!
- My Passion Projects
With an update coming, here are my passion projects on a short list! - On The Blog
Even as I spend every waking moment with the Aurora, I’m broadening my horizons. - A Different Kind of Composition
I often claim I’m not a professional photographer, and yet I get paid for taking photos — An award-winning one, too. Like my sunset shot?? 😉
The Softer Side
Our grief is only as deep as our love. If you’ve been touched by complex love or loss, considering browsing my blog from a “past life.” It’s called A Still Life Watercolor.
“Thirsty for the Marvelous”
A Creative Soul Exploring Many Things:
- Adventures
- Art
- Aurora Chasing
- Creative Highlights
- Creative Nonfiction
- Photography
- Quotes
- Travel
- Update
- Writing
As my world expands, I’m envisioning new ways to bring it all together. If I can find time, I hope to bring more updates in writing, nature, the night sky and beyond to all of you here!
Stay tuned! Or subscribe for updates.
Writing Fiction Inspired by the Night Sky
Basically the Archives:
Aurora Chasing
Celebrating the art, culture, science, and photography of the Northern Lights and other rare atmospheric phenomena, by leading Aurora Chasing groups, studying mythology and legend, and organizing the annual Aurora Summit.
Space
Exploring the wonders of outer space and participating in NASA Socials and other types of space initiatives.
Travel
An avid adventurer, I’ve set out to travel to as many national and state parks as I can, sharing the journey on social media. Join my adventures on Instagram: @mfkaelin!
Art: Writing, Painting & Photography
With a flair for creativity, I am constantly challenging myself to do new things. There are many artists, photographers and creative geniuses who I admire, and I’ve also discovered a natural talent for painting, photography as well as writing.
An Archive of Adventures!
Last Update from August 21, 2025:
Lost a “fuzzy cousin” this week. We are heartbroken, and I don’t know how the family will come back from this. It’s nearly all I can think about.
Adventuring to the Upper Peninsula! I’m excited to finally get to Michigan’s gorgeous Upper Peninsula this year in September, with the inaugural Great Lakes Aurora & Dark-sky Jamboree. Maybe I’ll see you there?
A brand new festival for sky watchers & star gazers? That’s right! I’ve been invited to help organize the Inaugural Great Lakes Aurora & Dark-sky Jamboree (GLAD Jam), and I will be the Keynote Speaker in September. Maybe I’ll see you in the Upper Peninsula!
Last Update from August 1, 2025:
Worldwide Aurora Chase! During Solar Maximum, I’ll be traveling to Iceland; Yellowknife, Canada; Norway; and now officially, Finland. Mind Blown!!
Elio and I moved to a place on the lake! Could this mean more live sightings of Aurora from the 42nd Parallel? We shall see! It definitely means more swimming, more paddling and more nature.
I lost money on the book festival. But this is part of the journey! Learning how to be a successful indie author comes with trial and error. It’s my talks that have led to the most success. though I can’t speak at this pace and work full-time forever. Believe it or not, the 2nd Edition of my book has sold fewer than 500 copies. That’s ok, because I do fine, and the book is worth it, especially because when it helps others and promotes local photographers.
Honored to receive a Science Communicator Award. What an honor it was to serve on the Ground Support Team for the SolarMax Mission to study Aurora from Earth and with astronauts in space! I received an award for my work, and I am so grateful.
Last Update from July 5, 2025 & Beyond:
We’re Bringing the Chase to the “D”! Join me for a free talk July 18th, and a full day of Aurora Chasing perks and advice on July 20th at the Detroit Festival of Books!
An Aurora Chase we announce in advance. Our new event series in the Michigan Aurora Chasers is a hit! We are 2/3 on catching the Northern Lights at the Michigan Aurora Experience. Whether we catch the Aurora or not, we have an amazing time! Already planning for July and August. Come on out!
Gazing in awe at the Milky Way! The dark sky sanctuary on Beaver Island in northern Michigan brought some of the darkest skies I’ve ever seen. Outside of camera views, we didn’t see too much Aurora, but I was awestruck seeing the galaxy in such detail, more than I ever have in my life!
Elio makes me so proud. He counted Aurora Chasers on our last adventure, to see where his pack was so he could guard us and protect us. He’s getting his positive social vibes back too, though he still occasionally runs to “mom.” Two years together already!
— Elio and I, along with a crew of passionate Aurora Chasers, saw one of our favorite lighthouses from the water, as we sailed on The Emerald Isle ferry to Beaver Island for a star-studded adventure.
High heat is not my jam… But I’ll be escaping to the lakes as much as I can! I’ve been fortunate to share some paddleboarding with amazing people this year!
See you at the Detroit Book Fest! In an unexpected twist, I was invited to exhibit at the Detroit Festival of Books this July. So excited!
It’s Official! The University of Michigan has invited me on an international tour of Finland, as an expert guide to the Northern Lights. Coming in February 2026!
Eager for warm waters. I came THIS close to getting on my paddleboard last week, and the water seemed warm enough to swim in. Elio didn’t delay, just diving in our beautiful lakes. Consider the season OPEN!
Pondering a new club… Too often I spend all of my time on Northern Lights projects! I absolutely love it, but I’m considering adding a new club to my life. Perhaps photography? Or cycling? Time to get back into writer’s groups?
Almost sleepover time! My other favorite thing is being the favorite aunt, and I can’t wait to spoil my young nieces again soon.
Elio graduated from school! Our basic manners class is complete, and now we’ll be out an about, enjoying the soon-to-be-warm weather, and making the most of our social skills.
Want to geek out on Aurora? A variety of events are bringing the Aurora out in various ways, with Nerd Nite A2, a library program, an Aurora photography workshop, and the MI Aurora Experience. View Events.
Let’s speak out for democracy. I was proud to stand among the 5.2 million peaceful protestors on April 5, 2025, and I have a feeling this isn’t the end of the turmoil. I’m reminding myself to Breathe.
Last Update from January 20, 2025:
Gypsy? World traveler? During Solar Maximum, I’ll be traveling to Iceland; Yellowknife, Canada; Norway; and tentatively, Finland. Mind Blown!!
Elio, the Spunky Pup, has traveled to 11 states! He added five more states to his travel log in January as we road tripped to New Orleans to host university events during a conference..
Winter swimming?! I finally caved… Though I’ve never been a fan of exercising indoors, I signed up for a gym membership so I can swim to my heart’s content all year long.
My latest piece “Historic Aurora: Severe Geomagnetic Storm Lights Up the World” was published in Amateur Astronomy Magazine, featuring the talents of many photographers.
melissa f. kaelin 