Our guides can help you learn where, when and how to catch the Northern Lights! Choose whether you prefer to look at visual guides, watch video tutorials, or read up on the game of Aurora Chasing.
Get started with the guides below!
Introduction to the Northern Lights, Photography and More
- “Aurora Chasing in the U.S.”
Advice Blog by Founder Melissa F. Kaelin - “The Beginner’s Guide to Chasing Aurora”
Guide and Free Download by Admin Patrick Grubba - “Editing Photos of the Northern Lights”
Group Expert Gary Syrba - “Northern Lights in Michigan – Best Time and Places”
Capture the Atlas Guide featuring Admin Marybeth Kiczenski - “Aurora Chasing & Photography Info”
Guide by Group Expert Chase Nawrocki - “Aurora Tutorial: Space Weather Prediction Center”
While not written by our Group Experts, we long this thorough tutorial from the national forecasting agency, the SWPC - “Understanding Light in the Night”
Once you spend more time under the night sky, you’ll notice a surprising array of lights, colors and formations. Visit this guide to identify light types. - Using the Ovation Model
Discover an easy tool for Aurora forecasting that can help you know when to go outside on short notice.
Video & Multimedia Guides
Learn the game of Aurora Chasing. These guides offer advice on many aspects of Northern Lights. Photo by Marybeth Kiczenski.
• Video and multimedia guides created by our Aurora Chasers
• Follow the MI Aurora Blog for Guides, News & Updates
• More guides coming soon!
Guide to Viewing Locations
Become an empowered Aurora Chaser! Asking for one place to go on a public forum not only risks overcrowding, but it also gives you little flexibility under cloud cover or other obstacles. “The Empowered Guide to Viewing Locations” includes essential tips and a list of exact viewing locations. Photo by Gary Syrba.
> Be Empowered to Find Unique Viewing Locations
> Video: Find a Viewing Location Anywhere Using Dark Sky Maps
Night Sky Etiquette
Take a few easy steps to ensure everyone around you can enjoy the night sky, whether you know they are present or not. Night sky etiquette will help you see the Aurora in more color and detail, it will add quality to your photos, and it might even expand your appreciation for the dark. Photo by Jonatan Pie.
MI Aurora Resources
Find our best links and advice on a list of resources anyone can use in their pursuit of Aurora. The list is not exhaustive, but we’re adding links all the time. Photo by Jen Selwa.
Quick Tools & Links
These quick links can help you plan your next chase or find success while you’re out in the field.
- 30-minute Ovation Model
https://services.swpc.noaa.gov/images/aurora-forecast-northern-hemisphere.jpg - Dark Sky Map
https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/ - Solar Wind Parameters from SWL
https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ - Graphical Weather Forecast for Great Lakes Region for Sky Cover
https://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/centgrtlakes.php#tabs - NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
Your purchase of this guidebook helps the group founder make her events, travels,
and high activity levels in Aurora Chasing sustainable!
More on Aurora Chasing
More information is coming soon! You can also find more resources by browsing our existing shortcuts and bookmarks at the link below.
Michigan Aurora Chasers 
