Cover Photo Featuring the 3rd Edition Design by Shea Sarns.
Submit Your Work in New Contests
Let’s celebrate your best work! The Michigan Aurora Chasers is hosting several contests for members, where those who participate can win gear or win big with cash prizes! Choose a contest to enter at the links below.
New! Capture The Dark Sky Contest
The Capture The Dark Sky celebrates Michigan’s extraordinary night skies, showcasing the photographers who document them, in a collaborative effort to decorate the walls of Headlands International Dark Sky Park!
Offering over $1,500 in cash prizes, the contest will invite entries to win in three categories:
1. The Night Sky
2. Aurora
3. Deep Space Objects
The Grand Prize Winner will receive $225, a printed display with a bio card at Headlands International Dark Sky Park, and a featured social media post by MAC & MCAAC.
The Grand Prize and the Winners of each category with be unveiled in an Award Ceremony at the 4th Annual Michigan Aurora Chasers Workshop on March 21, 2026, (free registration required to attend). The deadline to enter is February 28, 2026. Please follow the guidelines on the contest website to submit your entries.
This contest is a collaboration between the Mackinaw City Area Arts Council, the Michigan Aurora Chasers, and Headlands International Dark Sky Park. Good luck, everyone!
Recommended Sizes: JPEG with a maximum dimension of 1920 to 3840 pixels on the long edge, a file size under 5MB-50MB, and 300 DPI
In general: Dimensions (Pixels): Aim for 1920 x 1080 (HD), 1920 x 1280 (3:2 ratio), or up to 3840 pixels wide for high-resolution screens.
File Type/Format: JPEG is preferred.
File Size: Prefer to keep file size between 5MB TO 50MB. Resolution (DPI/PPI): While PPI doesn’t matter for screen, 300 DPI is recommended for versatility. Color Profile: sRGB works best
Visit the Capture The Dark Sky Website for details: TinyUrl.com/CaptureTheDarkSky
Shape of the Sky Book Project
Founder Melissa F. Kaelin invites photographers to join her in a collaborative project to publish over 100 photos of the Northern Lights in Michigan, featuring your submitted photos in a hardcover book! Learn more about the project on her website.
Past Contests
If you’re interested in viewing an archive of our contests from the official website, you can find them at the link below.
Michigan Aurora Chasers 