New Website! Find Our Content on MichiganAuroraChasers.com
Inspired by our active and engaged community, I decided to put the Michigan Aurora Chasers on the map! A site map, that is. This amazing community now has its very own website, offering guides, subscriptions, videos and guest posts.
Meet 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 105,000 members, and it has become very active both online and in real life!
View the Michigan Aurora Resource List!
The Michigan Aurora Resources List compiles some of the best websites and tools used in Aurora Chasing across the world, as well as our own websites, tools, shortcuts and guides. If you need Aurora Chasing advice, you can find it on this webpage or post in the group.
Celebrating 100K! Statewide Live Chase!
RSVP for updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/455341716911164
We’re thrilled to celebrate an amazing season in Aurora Chasing! Now, we finally have a good forecast to work with, that’s not a G5 Storm. So, your Lead Team has declared a #LiveChase!!! 💥🌎☄️😎
To celebrate hitting over 100,000 members and leading THOUSANDS to their first Aurora, we will hold a special STATEWIDE LIVE CHASE on Monday, June 10th at sunset! Join us on Monday, June 10th as we chase the Northern Lights at locations across Michigan! Because we are planning this event in advance, we cannot guarantee Aurora Sightings. But we will teach you the game of Aurora Chasing! Keep checking Facebook as we post updates, as well as the event page linked here. So far, here are your guides, a list that may be subject to change:
• Guide Patrick Grubba, Dark Sky Viewing Area inside Wilderness State Park near Mackinac City
• Guide Melissa F. Kaelin, Little Sable Point Lighthouse, near Mears:
• Guide Nate Stovall, Flat Rock, Port Austin
• Guide Pandora Biskner, Dark Sky Preserve, Port Austin
• Guides Christina Wiggins and Ryan Jake Jakubowski, Bay City State Park on the beach
• Guide Christina Cantu Sharp, Glen Haven Cannery
• Guide Kris Knutson, Copper Harbor Lighthouse, Upper Peninsula
Upcoming Events
Interested in getting involved in more Aurora Chasing events and opportunities?
Group Opportunities
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
- Our 2nd Edition Design Contest led us to sell Michigan Aurora Chasers Gear & Apparel, available on demand from Spreadshirt. Shop our store: https://michigan-aurora-chasers.myspreadshop.com/
- The Beginner’s Guide for Chasing Aurora, by Patrick Grubba is a free download anyone can use to learn the ropes of Aurora Chasing
- The Annual Michigan Aurora Chasers Workshop was held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Headlands International Dark Sky Park. Registration required, with an invite to RSVP: https://fb.me/e/FjF0WcFK
- Follow the public-facing Facebook Page for Michigan Aurora Chasers: FB.com/MichiganAuroraChasers
- We hold meet-up events, such as the #LiveChase, the #MiAuroraSocial and the #MiAuroraWorkshop
- Our members are active with the hashtag(s) #MIAuroraChasers and #MIAurora on Twitter and Instagram
- Our 1st 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 group founder also wrote a guidebook, releasing the 2nd Edition: “Beyond the 45th Parallel: The Beginner’s Guide to Chasing Aurora in the Mid-latitudes”
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.
Opportunities
• The international Aurora Summit accepts presentation ideas year-long for those who want to Become a Presenter! If you have a topic idea, enter your idea on the website for consideration. 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
- We were featured in WDIV Local 4 News and Click on Detroit in an interview with Melissa F. Kaelin: Writer, Artist & Stargazer!
- Several of our photographers had their images featured by the Weather Channel after a #LiveChase! They included Nick Merc, Justin Miller, Lynn Leiterman, Christina Cantu Sharp, Joanne Furton, Sankalp Merchant and Nate Stovall! The Weather Channel also interviewed our “Extreme Aurora Chaser” Marybeth Kiczenski! View the social media post.
- Group Expert Lucy McClellan-Hunter was featured with writing and photography in “Northern Michigan Woman” Magazine!
- Maya Kairunas had photography featured in a column for 98.7 WFGR Radio in Grand Rapids, written by Scott Winters! https://wfgr.com/they-really-do-exist-i-finally-saw-the-northern-lights/
- Group Expert Emily Elizabeth Cook was interviewed for an article in The Washington Post! https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/northern-lights-canada-alaska-minnesota/
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!
melissa f. kaelin 