News: Aurora Summit Features Authors, Adventure Photographers & Scientists to Lead Skywatchers to the ‘Night of a Lifetime’

With an international line-up, the 8th Annual Aurora Summit showcases a National Geographic talent, award-winning astrophotographers, emerging space weather scientists and more.

RED CLIFF, Wisc. — Bringing talents from Canada, Spain and the U.S.A., the 8th Annual Aurora Summit will present an international program of educational sessions, camera clinics, panel discussions, special programs and more for Northern Lights enthusiasts in November.

Aurora Summit 25 will feature Keynote Speaker Dan Zafra, the creator of Capture the Atlas. He will speak during the Saturday night banquet, which includes a slideshow of submitted Aurora photography from around the world, followed by a group aurora chase.

Held on native land at Legendary Waters Resort in Red Cliff, Wisconsin, U.S.A., the weekend convention will offer over a dozen perspectives on how to find, photograph, animate and understand the Aurora. The program includes two panel discussions, a variety of breakout sessions, presentations designed to enlighten and inspire, and special programs such as book signings, interactive games, Northern Lights trivia and prizes. One lucky grand prize winner will receive an inclusive Alaska Northern Lights Trip for March 2026, some conditions apply!

A panel discussion will kick off the convention on Friday night, followed by educational sessions on Saturday. The presentations will cover a broad range of topics, as the speakers explain the art, culture, science and photography of the Aurora throughout the event.

Aurora Summit 25 will include these presentations, ranging from beginner (B) to intermediate (I) and advanced (A):

• Keynote Speaker Dan Zafra, Creator of Capture the Atlas
• “From Auroras to Meteors: Capturing the Night’s Rarest Spectacles,” with Jeff Pfaller, Photographer & Author of “Dark Skies: Rare Phenomena in America’s Public Lands” (B)
• “Aurora Tourism: The North’s Most Unique Lights-Chasing Experiences,” with Stephanie Vermillion, National Geographic Author of “100 Nights of a Lifetime” & Adventure Journalist (B)
• “Space Weather Forecasting 101: How the Sun and Its Phenomena Lead to Aurora and Affect Our Daily Lives,” with Steve Luther, Aurora Chaser, Photographer and Space Weather Scholar (B) 
• “Stars in My Eyes: Composing and Shooting Powerful Aurora Photos,” with Aubrieta Hope, Photographer and Workshop Leader (A)
• “What is an Auroral Substorm & How Can You Forecast One?”, with Vincent Ledvina, Aurora Scientist and Professional Aurora Chaser (I)
• “Shooting and Processing Aurora Time-lapse”, with Marc Rassel, Award-winning Photographer, Workshop Leader and Aurora Chaser (A)
• “Scouting Locations for a Life-Changing Pastime,” with Zenderfull, also known as Samer Hobeika, Professional Tour Guide and Photographer (B) 
• “Dancing Lights and Chasing Dreams: Canadian Stories and Perspectives Under the Aurora”, with Chandresh “C.K.” Kedhambadi, Alberta Aurora Chasers Expert, NASA Aurorasaurus Ambassador, Citizen Scientist and Adventure Photographer (A)
• A history of catastrophic Geomagnetic Storms and a closer look at Solar Maximum, with Bob King, Astronomer and Author of “Magnificent Aurora: Your complete guide to nature’s greatest light show” (I)
• Capturing aurora on camera around the world, with Dixie J. Burbank, Admin of Aurora and Night Sky Adventures and Professional Tour Guide at Cosmic Chaos Adventures (I)
• “From Scottish Kilts to Torches & Valhalla: Aurora in Legend,” with Melissa F. Kaelin, Founder of the Michigan Aurora Chasers and Author of “Beyond the 45th Parallel,” a beginner’s guide to chasing the Aurora (B)

As well as two panel discussions moderated by the Aurora Summit co-founders:

• Aurora Chasing Panel, a panel discussion covering a broad range of Aurora topics
• Life Under the Lights, a panel discussion showcasing our own human stories of transformation and life-altering moments from our celebrated speakers and guests

Guests are also welcome to attend the Aurora Summit with special Saturday night admission to the Keynote Speech, featuring Dan Zafra. Zafra is a professional landscape and astro-landscape photographer from Spain, who is based in Las Vegas. His main area of expertise is night photography, with a special emphasis on Northern Lights and Milky Way photography using star-trackers.

Zafra’s mission is to help others discover, learn and master their landscape and night photography. He has spent years pursuing this passion, online through articles, guides and his night photography courses, and offline through his signature astro-landscape photography workshops. He is the creator and curator of The Northern Lights Photographer of the Year, an annual list of honorees that inspire people worldwide to go out and photograph the Aurora. He’s also the creator of the popular Capture the Atlas Milky Way Calendars, which help thousands of photographers plan their Astro shots around the world every year. 

Back by popular demand, guests are invited to attend a pre-conference AS25 Photography Bootcamp from 9am to 4:30pm, Friday, November 7, as an optional add-on. Led by 7th Edition Milky Way Photographer of the Year Marc Rassel, the program will teach new and emerging photographers everything they need to know to get their camera dialed in for a weekend of night photography. It will also include in-depth training on creating time-lapses.

Making the convention truly international, the attendees for Aurora Summit 25 already represent much of North America, coming from seven states including Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Alaska, as well as several countries and provinces, from Alberta and Québec, Canada, to Spain.

Open to the public, the 8^th Annual Aurora Summit will take place November 7-9, 2025, at the Event Center at Legendary Waters Resort & Casino in Red Cliff, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Lodging is available in the areas of Red Cliff, Bayfield, Washburn and Ashland, Wisconsin. Guests must register to attend, and registration is open until October 1, 2025. All meals are included in registration, as well as swag and raffle prizes.

With a shared passion for viewing and photographing the Aurora Borealis, the hope is that everyone will catch this rare natural phenomenon during the Aurora Summit. Aurora are never guaranteed. If the Northern Lights do not appear during the Aurora Summit, guests will leave knowing how to catch them on their own.

Established in 2017, the Aurora Summit is organized by Co-Founders Melissa F. Kaelin, author of “Beyond the 45th Parallel” and founder of the Michigan Aurora Chasers; and Dixie J. Burbank, photographer, professional tour guide, and owner of Cosmic Chaos Adventures, LLC.

Registration launches on Friday, June 13, 2025. For more information or to register, visit TheAuroraSummit.com.

Photo Credit: Photo by Dan Zafra