It may seem quiet on the Aurora horizon, but our team at the Michigan Aurora Chasers has been busy! Not only are we all balancing change in our own lives, but we’re also planning for the next big thing.
We’ve been putting together amazing opportunities to feature you, and admiring our counterparts in the community, as they plan awesome events celebrating our dark skies.
Read on to learn how your photo can be published for free in a new book, how you can attend classes, workshops or festivals, and more:
- Classes and workshops, with a potential guided Aurora Chase
- Final Deadline! Get Your Photo Published in the Shape of the Sky Project; Submit by August 15th for free! Or compete in the Cover Artist Competition for $15 by August 31st! Details: https://kaelinart.com/aurora/aurora-projects/shape-of-the-sky/
- The Aurora Summit comes to Michigan! And other festivals!
Classes & Workshops
Stunning Photos, One Camera: Cell Phone Camera Classes
Featuring Admin Patrick Grubba! The Mackinaw City Area Arts Council Presents Cell Phone Camera Classes. Stunning Photos, One Camera. All Skill Levels Welcome!
THREE DATES TO CHOOSE FROM!
July 29, August 26 & September 23, 2026
Mackinaw Women’s Club
310 East Jamet, Mackinaw City, Michigan
Admission: $10
Details below:
Extraordinary Aurora: Capturing Our Painted Night Skies
Featuring Founder Melissa F. Kaelin
Workshop at Dockside Books: The Moorings
Admission fee includes free book!
6:30pm, August 1, 2026
Dockside Books, Charlevoix
Join Founder of the Michigan Aurora Chasers Melissa F. Kaelin to hear about the Northern Lights, from the historic displays to the quiet nights where a soft glow appears over Northern Michigan. Get tips, tools and techniques to catch more Aurora at home, during exceptional substorms, and on your travels — and explore the wonder of sub-auroral phenomena.
If weather allows, we will do a guided Aurora Chase afterward!
To register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/extraordinary-aurora-capturing-our-painted-night-skies-tickets-1992439777008
First Fridays! Longway Planetarium
Experience Our Aurora Photography on the Planetarium Dome, including submissions!
Chasing the Northern Lights: Longway Planetarium
Friday, August 7, 2026 | 6 p.m.
Admission: $10
Longway Planetarium
Flint, Michigan
Also Featuring the MI Aurora Traveling Exhibit!
Get Tickets: https://sloanlongway.org/events/first-fridays-2026-05-01-2026-06-05-2026-07-03-2026-08-07/
Experience the Northern Lights through the eyes of devoted Aurora Chasers and photographers, in stunning imagery from the Michigan Aurora Chasers and beyond. You’ll have a chance to see when, where and how the Aurora appeared, to witness its rare formations and sub-Auroral phenomenon, and to learn how Aurora Chasers across the state are helping to advance the science and our understanding of the Aurora. You’ll also get invaluable advice to see the Northern Lights on your own and join the adventure!
Get Published! Final Deadline in Shape of the Sky Project
As the Founder of our community, I have launched a new project to publicize the talents of the community under my Author brand! In celebration of the strong community we have developed among Aurora Chasers in Michigan, I am sending out a call for submissions to a new photography collection.
It would be an honor to publish a hardcover book illustrating the beauty of the Northern Lights, featuring your photographs of Aurora in Michigan! With a goal of publishing 100-200 photographers, I would like to accept as many photos as possible. Thank you if you have already submitted!
Imagine your Aurora photography illustrating the pages of a book of over 100 Northern Lights photographs, with 5-10 essays scattered in between. If you have ever photographed the Aurora in Michigan, you are welcome to submit!
Sample Cover with Sample Book Title:
Yet to be titled, this book would be available online at Bookshop.org, BookBaby.com, and on Barnes & Noble and Amazon. It would also be available for retail and wholesale, listed with major distributors that send books wherever books are sold.
Sample pages in 11×8.5 hardcover book:
I’m working on the project throughout the year, in collaboration with photographers, aiming to release the book in January 2027. Submissions officially opened in February, but we recognize not everyone sees information in the social media algorithms.
The final deadline to submit for free is August 15th! A Cover Artist Contest, with a charge of $15 per entry will close on August 31st, and the selected Cover Artist(s) will be paid up to $600 for their work!
8 Components of the Project
The project will include:
1) A Three-Part Submission Process:
a. An Entry Form, for you to include details and share project preferences.
b. Limit One Aurora Photo Published, participants may submit 1-5 photos for us to choose from, high-quality and detailed for large, full-color printing
c. Captions for Each Photo, including time, date and location.
2) Upon Acceptance, Sign A Contract Consenting to First Publication Rights. In order to publish your work and make it available for sale, I will need your permission in writing. A short contract will be provided with the Entry Form. I will ask for First Publication Rights, which means you give me your permission to publish your photo ONE TIME, then all rights revert back to you. I will also try to cover my bases, in case your book page appears on social media, marketing, webpages or other digital uses, like holding up the book in a video.
3) Receive an Acceptance Letter, confirming your photo has been selected for publication.
— This means it meets the criteria, you have agreed to be featured alongside the Michigan Aurora Chasers, and the quality is high enough for print.***
4) Simple Captions, for your work written by the book author/editor using the details you provided.
5) Cover Art Considerations, more details coming this summer!
6) Approval Process, giving you a limited window of time to suggest edits to a mock-up page.
7) Pre-Orders & Publication, with Discounted Contributor Copies Available.
8) A Book Release Party, open to the public, inviting the Michigan Aurora Chasers, and giving contributors an opportunity to make an appearance, sign books, and celebrate.
Details: KaelinArt.com/shape-of-the-sky
Dark Sky Festivals & Star Parties
Take a look at all of the inspiring events Michigan has to offer, brought to you by different clubs, organizations and associations around the area!
STAR PARTY! A Star Party is coming to Dr. Lawless International Dark Sky Park, August 12-15th!
BEAVER ISLAND DARK SKY FESTIVAL! The Inaugural Beaver Island Dark Sky Festival is coming up September 13-20, 2026! Details: https://beaverislandretreat.com/stars
GREAT LAKES STAR GAZE! The 2026 Great Lakes Star Gaze will be held from September 10th – 13th at the Ocqueoc Outdoor Center. Details: http://www.greatlakesstargaze.com/
30TH ASTRONOMY AT THE BEACH! Attend Michigan’s Largest Free Astronomy Event, September 18 & 19th at Island Lake State Park. Details: https://www.glaac.org/
9TH ANNUAL AURORA SUMMIT COMES TO MICHIGAN!
Featuring Admin Patrick Grubba as a Presenter
Co-Founded by Melissa F. Kaelin
Coming to Houghton, Michigan, November 6-8, 2026, with a pre-conference Photography Bootcamp to teach you how to photograph the Northern Lights, the Aurora Summit is open for registration! Registration includes meals. Register by Oct. 1: TheAuroraSummit.com
Michigan Aurora Chasers 
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