2025 By the Numbers

Featuring the Michigan Aurora Chasers!

As founder of the Michigan Aurora Chasers, I can tell you we have the most amazing group and the most talented Admin Team I could dream of! Our team is sharp, ambitious, compassionate and generous in spirit, and it’s because of them — and because of you — that we have had an incredible fourth year in existence. One more quality that describes our leadership team is this: They are humble.

You know I’m not shy!! So, while I often spend time writing about what I’m doing inside our group, this year I’m going to brag on behalf of the whole team! I’m diving into an annual tradition of writing my year in review, but this is our year in review.

For our Aurora Chasers, 2025 has been so magical, I can’t even count our wins. So, I tried to capture it in numbers. This team and our community makes me so proud, I could cry. But instead of going on and on, I’ll get to it. Let me present the highlights, looking back, looking inward, and always looking up!

— Melissa F. Kaelin, Founder
KaelinArt.com/connect

Presenting the Michigan Aurora Chasers Year in Review!!!

• #1 RANKED AURORA CHASER IN THE WORLD on the Glendale App, it’s the one and only Mr. Patrick Grubba, Creator of “GET OUTSIDE NOW!”

Congratulations, Patrick!!! We appreciate you!

• 1 Human Spaceflight Mission, the SolarMax Mission, with Ground Support Team members, Patrick Grubba and Melissa Kaelin, and citizen scientists (our Michigan Aurora Chasers!) Marybeth Kiczenski was on the team too, I believe.
• 12 Prizes of MAC Gear awarded to Michigan Aurora Chasers like you from our store in 2025, with more to come as we have sales to support these giveaways!
• 14 Guided Aurora Chases, roughly, including 3 #LiveChase events and 3 Michigan Aurora Experiences, as well as a new event at Hess Nature Preserve featuring Admin Patrick Grubba and Admin Kevin Clark
• 43 Submitted Photos featuring YOUR work showcased in the MI Aurora Traveling Exhibit, as well as hundreds of others showcased with astronomy YouTube channels, planetariums and more! Exhibit details on our website.
• 53,100 views on the MichiganAuroraChasers.com website, with visitors from 60 countries!
• 2 International Aurora Chases with 3 Admins:
— Melissa F. Kaelin and Admin Kris Knutson caught Aurora 4 out of 4 nights in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada;
— Melissa and Admin Christina Cantu Sharp caught Aurora 9 out of 14 nights chasing Aurora at sea aboard the M.S. Trollfjord sailing to the Arctic Ocean.
• 3 International Dark Sky destination trips, inviting the public out to Beaver Island International Dark Sky Sanctuary, Headlands International Dark Sky Park and the Keweenaw Peninsula & Keweenaw International Dark Sky Park!
• 1 of our Admins interviews experts from around the world and was invited to present at the European Space Weather Week in Umeå, Sweden. Congratulations to Admin Marybeth Kiczenski who leads the video podcast “Space Weather Unplugged”!
• 1,184 Subscribers & Climbing to our free
@MichiganAuroraAlerts on the Telegram app
• 306 Subscribers & Climbing to free Aurora Alerts @AuroraRelayChannel serving the Great Lakes region, on Telegram
• 7 Festival Appearances by Michigan Aurora Chasers leaders, including the MI Aurora Workshop weekend, the all-new GLAD Jam (Great Lakes Aurora & Dark-sky Jamboree), the Annual Aurora Summit, the Beaver Island Dark Sky Sanctuary Experience, Camp Michigania Arts Weekend, the Detroit Book Festival, and the Stargazers Overnight Campout at Ocqueoc Outdoor Center.
• 4 Awesome Presentations in Mackinac City by Admins Pandora Biskner, Kris Knutson, Patrick Grubba, and Melissa Kaelin, and a 5th presented in the Keweenaw Peninsula by Admin Kevin Clark
• 1 Chaser Moved to Alaska to pursue his dream of guiding Aurora and Wildlife tours, Admin LiveChase Nate Stovall at North Star Adventures! Congratulations, Nate!!
• 8 or more Aurora caught in the most southwest corner of Michigan by Admin Kris Knutson!
• 3,887 Followers on Instagram and Climbing at @MiAuroraChasers
• Over 18,000 new membership requests to Michigan Aurora Chasers managed in 2025
• Over 36 public programs, workshops, and lectures around the state and the region in 2025 led by Founder Melissa F. Kaelin and many more presentations led by Admin Patrick Grubba, as well as others.

Thank you for being a part of the Michigan Aurora Chasers! You make this the amazing community it is. Wishing everyone a Wonderful Season, Happy Holidays and a Phenomenal New Year!