Announcements
- Now Until December 31st, Reserve Your Book for the Best Deal!
Save over 33% on full price when you order the book now as an Early Supporter. Learn more about pricing or order today on Patreon. - Contributing Photographers Set To Receive Mock-Ups by October 31st.
The current timeline for page design includes the months of September and October. We hope to have all mock-ups sent to photographers for approval by October’s end. Email us. - Events to Launch the Book Are In Motion!
Check back for announcements on our earliest book launch and book release parties. Click to view the upcoming events link. - Featured on iHeartRadio West Michigan Weekend on September 27th!
Listen to iHeartRadio West Michigan Weekend on September 27th to hear the book mentioned on the air with Host Phil Tower!
What is the Shape of the Sky Project?
The Shape of the Sky Project is a collaborative community project to publish a hardcover book that illustrates the beauty of the Northern Lights in Michigan, while featuring the work of hundreds of photographers. Created by Aurora Entrepreneur Melissa F. Kaelin, the project involved putting out a call for submissions, compiling nearly 200 photographs, writing appealing content, and editing each piece of the book into one large Aurora Photography Collection.
The project launched in January 2026, as a way to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Michigan Aurora Chasers, a vibrant community of over 134,000 Aurora Chasers and Photographers.
About the Photography Collection
Created in the Shape of the Sky Project, this Aurora Photography Collection will feature Northern Lights photographs from nearly 200 photographers — making it the largest collection of Aurora photographs ever published in Michigan, and possibly the U.S.A. Slated to be released by January 2027, the book will be titled “A Celestial Dance: Northern Lights Over Michigan.”
As Editor and Author of the book, Melissa will add the tome to her work in the 45th Parallel Series. The book will also feature her award-winning writing in short essays that capture the experience of chasing, understanding, and viewing the Northern Lights in the mid-latitudes.
Special Offers: Early Supporters & Sponsors
As a special offer, you can take advantage of three options to order the book now, before it is printed. To thank our earliest supporters and those who have stepped up to sponsor the book, we’re offering both a Collector’s Edition and a Standard Edition to those who place their order in 2026. The book is slated to release in January 2027!
Limited Time! Special Offers:
- Lowest Price Available! $75 Early Supporters **
(includes shipping)
Take advantage of the lowest publicly available price to order the hardcover book!
Save 33% or more on full price! Offer available until December 31st, 2026.
Description: With your purchase of this support level, you will receive a free hardcover edition of the book, which features over 100 full-page Aurora photographs printed in full-color from across the state of Michigan. The Early Supporter Package with Standard Edition will be autographed by Editor Melissa F. Kaelin with a personalized message. Your name will be featured in the front on a special page to honor our biggest fans! In addition, you’ll be taking advantage of a great price for the book. - $150 Early Supporters with Collector’s Edition **
(includes shipping)
Offer available until December 31st, 2026.
Description: With your purchase of this support level, you will also receive a free hardcover edition of the book, which features over 100 full-page Aurora photographs printed in full-color from across the state of Michigan. The Early Supporter Package with Collector’s Edition will be autographed by Editor Melissa F. Kaelin with a personalized message, and numbered as it comes hot off the press in the first run of books. Inside you will find printed postcard-sized keepsakes from the Michigan Aurora Chasers and their founder, who is creating the book. Your name will be featured in the front on a special page to honor our biggest fans! - $200 Sponsor with Collector’s Edition **
(includes shipping and special perks!)
Description: See your name in lights! With your purchase of this sponsorship, we will list your name on the front pages of the book, on a special page devoted to our biggest fans. You will receive a free hardcover Collector’s Edition of the book, which features over 100 full-page Aurora photographs printed in full-color from across the state of Michigan. Your collector’s edition will be autographed by Editor Melissa F. Kaelin, and numbered as it comes hot off the press in the first run of books. Inside you will find printed postcard-sized keepsakes from the Michigan Aurora Chasers and their founder.
** To get your name printed on the front pages of the book, please purchase one of the three options by October 1, 2026. Sponsors and Early Supporters who place an order after October 1 will see their names listed on the website only. The offer to see your name listed as an Early Supporter or Sponsor expires December 31, 2026. As of January 1, 2027, the customer is responsible for S&H.
Special pricing only available until December 31st, 2026.
For best results, use Venmo or payment page to avoid additional fees.
These offers can be found at: Patreon.com/AuroraAuthor/shop
Pricing & Availability
Thank you for your interest in the Shape of the Sky Project! A portion of the proceeds will be donated to support International Dark Sky organizations.
For the best pricing on the book, buy direct online from BookBaby’s Bookshop or visit your local international dark sky park or independent bookseller.
Retailers who carry the book may include:
- International Dark Sky Parks
- Independent Bookstores
COMMON QUESTIONS
Q: Is the book available in soft cover or a publicly sold eBook? A: No, the book is only sold in hardcover. It’s available from major distributors and by print-on-demand.
Q: Can I get a discount on the book? A: Anyone associated with the project group or the Michigan Aurora Chasers will have access to discounts on the hardcover book! (No soft cover.)
