You’re invited to The Aurora Summit: Celebrating the Art, Culture, Science, and Photography of the Aurora Borealis! This event brings Aurora enthusiasts in the mid-latitudes together each year for a weekend workshop in the U.S.
You don’t have to be a scientist or a photographer to attend. We offer beginning, intermediate, and advanced sessions. Many of our guests are even trying to view the Northern Lights for the first time!
Have a specific question? Check out the FAQ!
Aurora Summit 19
Join us for Aurora Summit 19, featuring Keynote Speaker Chris Ratcliff, the admin of the Alberta Aurora Chasers, and leader of the citizen science behind STEVE, the sub auroral arc!
This three-day workshop celebrates the art, culture, science, and photography of the Aurora Borealis. In 2019, we invite you to adventure into the night at an exciting new location!
— Aurora Summit 19 will move to Washburn, Wisconsin —
South of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore!
We’re planning a great weekend, featuring opportunities to hear from international celebrities in the Aurora Chasing and Storm Chasing world, as well as scientists, photographers, artists, storytellers, astronomers and more. The event includes:
- Featuring Keynote Speaker Chris Ratzlaff
- Educational Sessions
- Night Sky Photography
- Photography and/or Post Processing Workshops
- Panel Discussion
- Travelogue
- New! Aurora Trivia
- Prizes, Special Features & More
If we don’t see the Aurora Borealis and photograph it together at the Aurora Summit, you’ll leave knowing how to capture a good display on your own!
Aurora Summit 19
Friday, Nov. 1 – Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019
The Washburn Inn & Harbor View Event Center
Washburn, Wisconsin
For discounted rates at the host hotel, call and mention the Aurora Summit!
RSVP on Facebook!
COMING SOON! For details, check out the 2019 Conference Schedule.
2019 Featured Keynote Speaker
We’re proud to announce the keynote speaker for the Aurora Summit! Alberta Aurora Chasers Admin Chris Ratzlaff will present his experience as a “chaser of elusive things” at the Aurora Summit, slated for Nov. 1-3, 2019, in Washburn, Wisconsin.
Specifically, Chris chases storms, Aurora, and the odd bubble frozen at ridiculously cold temperatures. Chris has always been fascinated by the sky and snapping photos of it, but it’s really in the last few years that he discovered a passion for catching and photographing the elusive sights offered by powerful storms and the vibrant Aurora that many never have much opportunity to witness. Check out Chris Ratzlaff Photography for more!
His passion is built upon a love for learning about the causes of these events, which helps to predict (with wildly varying accuracy, and often lack-thereof) when and where these elusive phenomena can be caught. This led Chris to become a Citizen Science Leader in the Aurora community. Chris has helped bring the observations of the Alberta Aurora Chasers to the attention of the scientific community and to represent Aurora Chasers in some of the scientific research that followed the discovery of the narrow, purple band of light we’ve come to know as STEVE.
Want to know how this sub auroral arc, also known as the Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, became Phenomenal STEVE? Chris was the “goofball” to propose the name STEVE as a temporary name for that band of light!
Registration launches in June. To sign up, visit: TheAuroraSummit.com
2019 Featured Presenters
Many outstanding ideas and proposals were entered to the Aurora Summit, through the submission process on our website. With so much talent in the room, we had to make some tough choices when it came to presenters.
We’re excited to announce the featured presenters for Aurora Summit 19! Follow our social media channels to learn more.
Aurora Summit 2019 Presenters:
• Chris Ratzlaff, Presenter and Keynote Speaker, Admin of the Albert Aurora Chasers and a storm chaser of national fame. He was featured in a documentary series called “The Nature of Things: The Wonder of the Northern Lights.”
• Christy Turner, an internationally-commissioned travel and lifestyle photographer who has traveled to more than 74 countries so far, photographing the Milky Way in Africa, the aurora in Iceland and chasing substorms in the Yukon. She was featured in a Telus documentary series called “Chasing Steve.”
• Bob King, Photojournalist, creator of Astro Bob, and author of three books including “Wonders of the Night Sky You Must See Before You Die” and his forthcoming book, “Urban Legends of Space,” which examines science vs. pseudoscience in astronomy.
• Christian Harris, Founder and Admin of Space Weather Trackers who holds a B.S. in Astrophysics from The Ohio State University, and participated as a contributor to the Sunjammer project.
• Roger D. Feldhans, a night photographer and light painter who began creating images on film and uses a combination of professional and homemade tools to create images at events such as the International Day of Light.
• Mark Ellis, a lifelong photographer whose time-lapse, photography and video have been licensed by BBC News and National Geographic WILD.
• Matthew Moses, a freelance photographer with a deep understanding of astronomy and space weather who strives to deliver the photos that capture the memories and emotions of the scene.
• Amber Nichols, Admin of Frozen Photographers and president of the Duluth Superior Camera Club, who works a freelance photographer and knows the secrets to shooting in subzero weather.
• Paul Nelson, a retired engineer from Michigan who brings an attention to detail and technical requirements to his approach to photography. One of his images was published on NationalGeographic.com as part of an article about Northern Lights in the Lower 48 states.
• Jamie Rabold, Admin of Frozen Photographers, photographer and light painter who photographs everything from the stars and aurora borealis, to many forms of light painting.
For more on the Aurora Borealis, our founders will also present! They include:
• Host Mike Shaw, Presenting on astrophotography
• Dixie J. Burbank, Presenting the travelogue
• Melissa F. Kaelin, Presenting on Aurora legends & mythology
Thank you to all the presenters who expressed an interest on our website. We appreciate your time, and we hope you’ll consider us again next year!
Aurora Summit Rewind
Discover everything the Aurora Summit has brought to the community! Revisit past events in the Archives. We hope you’ll join us at the next Aurora Summit!
Rewind: Featured Keynote Speaker
Many phenomenal people have contributed their talents to the main event at the Aurora Summit, the Saturday evening banquet and night sky photography that follows. We’re honored and grateful to work with so many fantastic keynote speakers.
A Look Back at Keynote Speakers
- Aurora Summit 19: Keynote Speaker Chris Ratzlaff, Alberta Aurora Chasers Admin and Citizen Scientist Leader behind the sub auroral arc known as STEVE
- Aurora Summit 18: Keynote Speaker Mary Stewart Adams, Host of The Storyteller’s Night Sky and Founder of Headlands International Dark Sky Park
- Aurora Summit 17: Keynote Speaker Bob King, of Astro Bob’s Astronomy for Everyone and Author of Night Sky With the Naked Eye
Rewind: Featured Presenters
Many outstanding ideas and proposals were entered for presentations at Aurora Summit 18, through the submission process on our website. With so much talent in the room, we had to make some tough choices when it came to presenters.
We’re excited to announce the featured presenters for Aurora Summit 19! Follow our social media channels to learn more.
Past Events
In our inaugural year, we welcomed guests from more than eight states and provinces, including guests from as far as Georgia and Manitoba.
Our Inaugural Event!
Aurora Summit 17
Celebrating the Art, Culture, Science, and Photography of the Aurora Borealis
Friday, Oct. 27 – Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017
Two Harbors, Minnesota
Register: AuroraSummit17.MikeShawPhotography.com (Closed)
#AuroraSummit17
Aurora Summit 18
Celebrating the Art, Culture, Science, and Photography of the Aurora Borealis
Friday, Nov. 2 – Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018
Two Harbors, Minnesota
Register: http://aurorasummit18.eventzilla.net/ (Closed)
#AuroraSummit18
Do you have more questions? Get answers with the FAQ.
For more information about past events, visit the Archives.
