Experience the Aurora
As a group, we create many opportunities to bring Aurora Chasers together. They span a broad range from workshops, socials and programs to the Live Chase.
Scroll down to find:
- Michigan Aurora Socials, Live Chases, and the new Aurora Experience
- The Annual Michigan Aurora Chasers Workshop
- Aurora & Dark Sky Festivals and Conventions
- Workshops offered by Group Experts
- Upcoming events & guest appearances
The Featured Photograph is by Christina Cantu Sharp, taken during a MI Aurora Experience on November 12, 2025, held in Pinckney, Michigan.
Upcoming Events
Join us at one of our upcoming events! You can also watch for opportunities inside the Michigan Aurora Chasers Group on #WorkshopWednesday or under our Events tab.
Headlands International Dark Sky Park Presents Chasing the Aurora Beyond Solar Maximum
Featuring Melissa F. Kaelin
Guided Aurora Chasing Experience to follow at sunset
8:00pm, Thursday, June 11, 2026
Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Mackinaw City, Michigan
Author and founder for Michigan Aurora Chasers. Are you eager to see the Northern Lights? Join the Founder of the Michigan Aurora Chasers for tips, tools and techniques to help you know when and where you can see the Aurora. In 2024, we reached Solar Maximum, the peak of an 11-year cycle of solar activity. Find out what that means for Aurora this summer, this fall and for years to come. When the Aurora dances again, we’ll make sure you’re ready with the knowledge and insight you need to be successful!
For details, visit: Headlands International Dark Sky Park
Young Aurora Chasers
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 7-8 p.m. at Longway Planetarium
When was the last time you saw the Northern Lights? Join the first youth group designed to catch Aurora, led by Michigan Aurora Chasers Founder Melissa F. Kaelin! We’ll trade night sky stories, be amazed by Aurora photography, explore apps for Earth and Space weather forecasting, and look deep into Space to discover Aurora’s origins. Come as you are, tell your story, see rare Auroral phenomena, and leave with fun ways to get involved.
Presented by Melissa F. Kaelin, Michigan Aurora Chasers Founder
Targeted live talk for ages 12-18 | $12/child
*Parents are encouraged to drop off their child for this educational special event as space and supplies are limited. If parents need to stay it is $12/person to attend.
For details, visit: https://sloanlongway.org/events/young-aurora-chasers/
Aurora Garage Jam & Book Signing
Featuring Melissa F. Kaelin
7:30pm, Friday, May 22, 2026
Dunlop Showroom and Garage, Bay City, Michigan
Come to the Aurora Garage Jam — a casual event celebrating the Northern Lights with Melissa F. Kaelin, Founder of the Michigan Aurora Chasers. Enjoy Aurora stories and advice, a social centered on Aurora, and fun highlights from the local community. Melissa will have her books available to sell and sign, $16. Bring whatever you like to eat or drink. And get ready to be inspired!
Free and open to the public. Thank you to our hosts at the Ability Social Club and Dunlop Showroom & Garage!
MI Aurora Experience: The Great Lakes Under a Crescent Moon
9:30pm/10pm, Thursday, June 11, 2026 — Near Mackinac City, Michigan. Feel free to meet at Headlands International Dark Sky Park at 9:00pm, for an update from Melissa F. Kaelin. Chase begins at 10pm, location near Mackinac City TO BE DETERMINED.
Free and open to the public, suggested donation of $5 > CLICK HERE TO DONATE, no registration required.
Details: https://michiganaurorachasers.com/events/experience/
RSVP on Facebook:
9th Annual Aurora Summit
Celebrating the Art, Culture, Science and Photography of the Aurora
Save the Date! November 6-8, 2026, with an optional pre-conference AS26 Photography Bootcamp from 9-5pm, Friday, Nov 6th. Registration launches in June.
COMING TO HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN!
Our Events
Are you hoping to catch the Northern Lights? Our events offer people a chance to gather, learn, and get hands-on experience chasing, forecasting or photographing the Aurora.
Throughout the year, we hold meet-up events, such as the #LiveChase, the Aurora Experience, and the Michigan Aurora Workshop. To find events and workshops, check back on this website, follow the Michigan Aurora Chasers Facebook Page, or Subscribe for Updates.
In the Michigan Aurora Chasers, we’re thrilled to sustain a welcoming community, and you’re welcome to become a part of it!
MI Aurora Experience
Our Michigan Aurora Experience events are scheduled well in advance, without knowledge of what weather on Earth or weather in Space will bring. It takes favorable conditions both on Earth and in space to see the Northern Lights. Still, during these events, we will take you out into the night and do everything in our power to help you catch the Aurora, teaching you everything we know.
If you’re attending one of these events, know that we have no way of knowing whether you will see the Northern Lights. It all depends on how conditions change during that week and that night. You can find these events posted here on our events page and in the Facebook Group, and sometimes posted on Instagram by @mfkaelin or @MiAuroraChasers.
The Live Chase
Our #LiveChase events are announced with very little notice, as Group Experts and Admins monitor conditions to take note of probably Aurora Activity after nightfall in the Great Lakes region. These events are announced in the Facebook Group on the day of the event, and sometimes on Instagram by @mfkaelin or @MiAuroraChasers.
Guest Appearances
You’re welcome to join our Admins and Group Experts from the Michigan Aurora Chasers for one of their appearances, whether it’s an Aurora Chasing talk, book signing, workshop, conference or festival!
We encourage our lead team to send us the details for any upcoming talks, to add them here alongside talks by the group founder.
Photography Workshops
Looking for a photography, night sky or Aurora Chasing workshop? We encourage anyone offering quality events to post them in the Michigan Aurora Chasers group on Workshop Wednesday, but we try to keep a pulse on what is available, especially by our hardest working volunteers.
Browse the offerings of these expert Aurora Chasers and Destinations:
- Workshops by Shelbydiamondstar Photography
- Workshops by Christina Wiggins Photography
- Workshops by Ryan Jake Jakubowski
- Workshops by Aubrieta Hope & Neil Weaver
- Workshops by JM Naturescapes
- Headlands International Dark Sky Park Events
- Keweenaw International Dark Sky Park Events
- Dr. T.K. Lawless International Dark Sky Park Events
Other Annual Events
Browse the listing below to see what events are coming up and what popular events we hope to offer again. New opportunities are posted by our members and Group Experts every week on #WorkshopWednesday in the Michigan Aurora Chasers Group.
Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival
The event will be held over April 24-26, 2025, and provides three days of learning. Events and workshops will be hosted at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, headquarters for the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park.
Details: https://keweenawdarksky.com/calendar/2025-upper-peninsula-dark-sky-festival/
The Aurora Summit
Celebrating the Art, Culture, Science & Photography of the Northern Lights
Featuring Michigan Aurora Chasers Admins & Group Experts, A conference co-founded by Michigan Aurora Chasers Founder Melissa F. Kaelin and Dixie J. Burbank. Registration is required.
Details: TheAuroraSummit.com
Michigan Aurora Chasers 