Michigan Aurora Chasers

Who are the Michigan Aurora Chasers?

The Michigan Aurora Chasers began as a Facebook Group to help people find and photograph the Northern Lights in Michigan and the surrounding areas. Since the group was founded on January 20, 2021, our community has grown to over 99,000 members, and it has become very active both online and in real life!

2nd Annual Michigan Aurora Chasers Workshop

Join us for a day of Aurora Chasing, with tutorials on Aurora Chasing, Aurora Forecasting and Aurora Photography. Dinner will be provided at an additional cost, and a social and night shoot will happen after the event at the dark sky park.

For more events, visit our link tree: https://linktr.ee/MiAuroraChasers

Michigan Aurora Chasers Workshop Schedule

12:00 pm to 12:30 pm — Registration
12:30 pm to 12:45 pm — Welcome by Melissa Kaelin
12:45 pm to 1:00 pm — Headland’s Dark Sky Mission – Headland’s staff
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm — Cell Phone Photography and Aurora by Patrick Grubba
2:00 pm to 2:15 pm — Break
2:15 pm to 3:15 pm — Aurora Forecasting 101 by Melissa
3:15 pm to 4:15 pm — Camera Equipment and Lenses for Aurora Photography by Justin Miller
4:15 pm to 4:30 pm — Break
4:30 pm to 5:15 pm — Panel Q&A – Presenters and MAC Admins
5:15 pm to 5:30 pm — Wrap up – Melissa
5:45 pm — Pizza Dinner for those registered. (Must have dinner ticket)
6:45 pm to 9:00 pm — Hands On Camera and Forecasting Advice with Sunset and a Live Aurora Chase, weather permitting – Headland Grounds, and/or Mackinaw City area – Michigan Aurora Team

A block of rooms has been reserved at a discounted rate at the host hotel, the Holiday Inn Express in Mackinac City. Contact the hotel and tell them you are with the Michigan Aurora Chasers to get a discounted rate. Please consider waiting until you reserve your ticket to make your reservation, to ensure you get a seat!

How to Join the Waitlist: 1. Open Facebook. 2. Pull up the 2nd Annual Michigan Aurora Chasers Workshop event page: https://fb.me/e/FjF0WcFK. 3. Find the post pinned to the top of the Discussion that says Waitlist. 4. Comment to add your name. Thank you!

Registration is required to attend. Registration opens on January 16. RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/981677442899569

Register

Upcoming Events

Interested in getting involved in more Aurora Chasing events and opportunities?

View our upcoming events

As a group, we create many opportunities to bring Aurora Chasers together. Check out some of our recent projects:

  • A New Link Tree highlights the best & newest updates from the Michigan Aurora Chasers: https://linktr.ee/MiAuroraChasers
  • The 2nd Annual Michigan Aurora Chasers Workshop will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Headlands International Dark Sky Park. Registration required, and the registration website will launch early in 2024. RSVP so you can be among the first to register: https://fb.me/e/FjF0WcFK
  • A #MiAuroraSocial will be held for those in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula on January 6, 2024 in Houghton Lake! Find the Event page for details.
  • Follow the public-facing Facebook Page for Michigan Aurora Chasers: FB.com/MichiganAuroraChasers
  • We hold meet-up events, such as the #LiveChase and the Michigan Aurora Chasers Social
  • Our members are active with the hashtag(s) #MIAuroraChasers and #MIAurora on Twitter and Instagram
  • The group founder also wrote a book, now available online: “Below the 45th Parallel: The Beginner’s Guide to Chasing the Aurora in the Great Lakes Region”
  • Our Second Edition Design Contest led us to sell Michigan Aurora Chasers Gear & Apparel, available on demand from Spreadshirt.
  • Our First Edition Design Contest led us to sell Michigan Aurora Chasers Gear & Apparel, available on demand from Bonfire. Proceeds benefit the International Dark Sky Association.
  • To share advice on Aurora Chasing topics, Founder Melissa Kaelin created a blog for Aurora Chasing in the U.S.
  • The Founder of the Michigan Aurora Chasers has been invited to speak at the 2nd Annual Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival in Copper Harbor, Michigan, tentatively scheduled for April 12-13, 2024. Registration required. Melissa also offer many talks and is featured frequently in the news. Details: KaelinArt.com/news-and-events

Learn more about chasing the Aurora in the mid-latitudes and the Michigan Aurora Chasers group at the links below. Now, the group also offers a public-facing Facebook Page for updates about the Michigan Aurora Chasers.

Join the Michigan Aurora Chasers

Opportunities

• The international Aurora Summit is accepting presentations to Become a Presenter! If you have a topic idea, enter your idea on the website. Please submit your ideas by March 1: TheAuroraSummit.com/Get-Involved

• Want to become a Group Expert in the Michigan Aurora Chasers? The admins are always keeping an eye out for seasoned Aurora Chasers who help answer questions and give freely of their knowledge in helpful posts in our Facebook Group. Just start sharing your expertise with the group. We are very appreciative of everyone who helps out, and your participation does not go unnoticed!

In the Press

Northern Express
“Aurora Chasers Teach Us How to Watch the Sky,”
November 11, 2023

FOX 17/West Michigan
“Northern Lights Spotted As Far South As Niles”
https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/michigan/northern-lights-spotted-as-far-south-as-niles
September 19, 2023

MLive
“Want to See the Northern Lights in Michigan? Follow These 5 Expert Tips”
https://www.mlive.com/news/2023/05/want-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-michigan-follow-these-5-expert-tips.html
May 16, 2023

A2 Pulp
“Chasing Lights: Ann Arbor’s Melissa Kaelin knows the secrets to seeing the aurora borealis right here in Michigan”
https://pulp.aadl.org/node/618317
May 3, 2023

Click On Detroit
“Northern Lights Chase: Michigan Group Tracks Aurora in Real Time to Help People Find It”
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan/2022/12/16/northern-lights-chase-michigan-group-tracks-aurora-in-real-time-to-help-people-find-it/
December 12, 2022

Visuals

Founded by Melissa F. Kaelin, the Michigan Aurora Chasers group features a talented team of administrators and Group Experts. Our growing number of Group Experts help understand what they are seeing and photographing in the mid-latitudes, where Aurora is very rare.

Group Experts may also hold a #LiveChase at times, to share advice both in person and on social media, when Aurora activity is eminent.

After helping hundreds of beginning Aurora enthusiasts catch their first display of Northern Lights, the Michigan Aurora Chasers has been featured prominently in the television, radio and print news. Below are a few of the more prominent media outlets and feature articles.

  • Group Expert Ricky Aldaco was featured on Click on Detroit after the G3 Storms on February 26, 2023.
  • Admin Marybeth Kiczenski was featured as a 2022 Northern Lights Photographer of the Year by Capture the Atlas!
2023 Northern Lights Photographer of the Year
Meet the founder

Graphic Design

Our sincere gratitude to Admin Patrick Grubba, who used his talents to create a new logo for the Michigan Aurora Chasers.

The first Michigan Aurora Chasers design was created by one of our own, Jama Bains, who won the 1st Edition Michigan Aurora Chasers Design contest. Thank you to our artist!

Past Updates & News

On April 1, 2023, we held the first Michigan Aurora Chasers Workshop. The event is sold out, but all are welcome to register for the Social and Night Shoot at 7:30pm, Saturday, April 1. Please register at the website. We hope to post presentations online after the event.

From April 21-23, two admins of the Michigan Aurora Chasers joined the presenter line-up at the Inaugural Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival held at Keweenaw International Dark Sky Park, including Marybeth Kiczenski and Founder Melissa F. Kaelin

The Second Edition Design Contest offers a $75 prize and you can submit here! Deadline extended until May 10, 2023!