Archives

Look back on all the exciting years of the Aurora Summit!

This page lists past events only. It does not contain current information. We’ll use this space to keep a record of past events, so people can find past presentations, reminisce about past presenters, or get an idea of what to expect at the annual conference.

In the Archives, you’ll find:

  • A Brief History
  • Event Recaps, Presentation Topics & Conference Schedules
  • Keynote Speakers, Featured Presenters & Panelists
  • Program Details, Links & Past FAQs

A Brief History of the Aurora Summit

In our inaugural year, we welcomed 101 people from more than eight states and provinces to northern Minnesota, including guests from as far as Georgia and Manitoba. Learn more About the Aurora Summit.

Our Inaugural Event!
Aurora Summit 17
Celebrating the Art, Culture, Science, and Photography of the Aurora Borealis
Keynote Speaker: Bob King
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
Keynote Speaker: Mary Stewart Adams
Friday, Nov. 2 – Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018
Two Harbors, Minnesota
Register: http://aurorasummit18.eventzilla.net/ (Closed)
#AuroraSummit18

Aurora Summit 19
Celebrating the Art, Culture, Science, and Photography of the Aurora Borealis
Keynote Speaker: Chris Ratzlaff
Friday, Nov. 1 – Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019
The Washburn Inn & Harbor View Event Center
Washburn, Wisconsin
Register: https://aurorasummit19.eventzilla.net/ (Closed)
#AuroraSummit19

Aurora Summit 20: Postponed Due to the Global Pandemic

Aurora Summit 21
Celebrating the Art, Culture, Science, and Photography of the Aurora Borealis
Keynote Speaker: Marybeth Kiczenski
Friday, Nov. 5 – Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021
The Washburn Inn & Harbor View Event Center
Washburn, Wisconsin
Register: https://aurorasummit21.eventzilla.net/e/2138807954 | Facebook (Closed)
#AuroraSummit21

Aurora Summit 22
Celebrating the Art, Culture, Science, and Photography of the Aurora Borealis
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Tamitha Skov
Friday, Nov. 4 – Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022
Legendary Waters Resort
Red Cliff, Wisconsin
Register: https://aurorasummit22.eventzilla.net/e/2138583677 | Facebook (Closed)
#AuroraSummit22

Aurora Summit 23
Celebrating the Art, Culture, Science, and Photography of the Aurora Borealis
Keynote Speaker: Alan Dyer
Friday, Nov. 3 – Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023
Legendary Waters Resort
Red Cliff, Wisconsin
Register: https://aurorasummit23.eventzilla.net/e/2138587994 | Facebook (Closed)
#AuroraSummit23

Aurora Summit 24
Date: Friday, Oct. 18 – Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024
Plus an optional pre-conference day!
Location: Legendary Waters Resort, Red Cliff, Wisconsin
Admission: Cost To Be Determined, Includes all meals
Register:  (Closed)
#AuroraSummit24

Do you have more questions? Get answers with the FAQ.

Recap: Aurora Summit 24

A Look Back: Our 2024 Presenters

In addition to the Keynote Speaker, each year we feature many new and returning presenters! We’re excited to share that Aurora Summit 24 will feature the following presenters.

The Aurora Summit 24 presentations include: 

  • Keynote Speaker Dr. Liz MacDonald, Founder of Aurorasaurus: Participatory Science: How Aurora Chasers and Scientists Can Team Up to Learn More
  • Presenter Vincent Ledvina, Aurora Forecasting for Any Skill Level
  • Presenter Tanya Melnik and Presenter Elizabeth Miller, with development by Brian Murphy Slattum, Upper Midwest Aurora Chasers Admins, Aurora Apps: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
  • Presenter Travis Novitsky, Proud citizen and lifelong resident of the Grand Portage Anishinaabe Nation, Featured in “Spirits Dancing” and Narrator of an Emmy-Award Winning Documentary: An Ojibwe Perspective on the Night Sky
  • Presenter Bob King, Aurora Everywhere — Planets, Exoplanets and Beyond!
  • Presenter Michele Sadauskas, Never Wide Enough! Wide Angle Photography, Gear & Lenses
  • Presenter Marty Weintraub. From Aurora Shots to Composed Astroscapes: Scout, Shoot, Edit 
  • Presenter Greg Ash, Single Image Creative Aurora, Photography & Camera Settings
  • Presenter Jen Selwa, After the Aurora: Enhancing your Night Sky Images in Editing
  • Presenter Samuel Warfel. SpaceWeatherLive: Making the Most of the Field’’s Best App
  • Presenter Bob Conzemius, A Changing Magnetic Field on Earth: Are the Auroras Changing, Too?, with 
  • Presenter Justin Miller, Think bigger! Putting multiple photos into one with Panoramas, Mosaics & Timelapses
  • Presenter Marc Rassel, Advanced Milky Way Editing: A deep dive in to using star trackers and advanced editing techniques for high-detail Milky Way photography
  • Sponsored by SpaceWeatherLive, Platinum Sponsor, with a Brief Presentation and a weekend-long visit by Founder and Developer Sander Vancanneyt and Webmaster and Space Weather Analyst Marcel De Bont | https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/

Aurora Summit 24: Conference Schedule

The conference schedule for Aurora Summit 24 is taking shape below. Any updates to the schedule will be posted here. Activities and times may be subject to change.

AURORA SUMMIT 24
Friday, Oct. 18 — Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024
Legendary Waters Resort: Event Center
Red Cliff, Wisconsin

PRE-CONFERENCE PROGRAM
AS24 Photography Bootcamp
9am-5pm, Friday, October 18

Breakfast on your own

9 am – Noon: Morning Sessions

12 – 1:30pm: Break for lunch (included)

1:30pm – 5pm: Afternoon Sessions, including Small Group Support 3:45-4:30pm

5pm: Official conference program begins, Dinner at 7pm (included)

For program details, visit: TheAuroraSummit.com/Bootcamp

OFFICIAL PROGRAM
Aurora Summit 24

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18

4 – 7pm: Registration, Legendary Waters Resort

4pm: Cash Bar Opens

4:15pm: Aurora Chasers Atlas! Find Travel Companions from Your Region

4:30-5:30pm: Meet and Greet; Aurora Chasing Mingle
(This informal programming will begin as guests arrive)

7pm: Welcome, Dinner (Included)

8:00 PM • Keynote Speaker Dr. Elizabeth MacDonald

9:30pm: Aurora Photography Hands-On Clinic, with Greg Ash & Others

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19

8am: Hot Breakfast (included)

9-9:45am Breakout Session I
• From Aurora Shots to Composed Astroscapes: Scout, Shoot, Edit, with Marty Weintraub
• SpaceWeatherLive: Making the Most of the Field’s Best App, with Sam Warfel
• Single Image Creative Aurora, Photography & Camera Settings, with Greg Ash

10-10:45am Breakout Session II
• After the Aurora: Enhancing your Night Sky Images in Editing, with Jen Selwa
• A Changing Magnetic Field on Earth: Are the Auroras Changing, Too?, with Bob Conzemius
• Advanced Milky Way Editing: A deep dive in to using star trackers and advanced editing techniques for high-detail Milky Way photography, with Marc Rassel

11-11:45am Breakout Session III
• Never Wide Enough! Wide Angle Photography, Gear & Lenses, with Michele Sadauskas
• Think bigger! Putting multiple photos into one with Panoramas, Mosaics & Timelapses, with Justin Miller
• Aurora Apps: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (A), with Tanya Melnick and Elizabeth Miller, also developed by Brian Murphy Slattum, UMAC

12:00-1:30pm Lunch (Included)

1:30 PM • Session IV: “Aurora Everywhere: Planets, Exoplanets & Beyond!” featuring Bob King (Full Group Session)

2:30 PM • Session V: “Aurora Forecasting for Any Skill Level” featuring Vincent Ledvina (Full Group Session)

3:30 PM • Panel Discussion: Destination Aurora Chasing — World Travel
Featuring Marty Weintraub, Minnesota; Bonnie Tiedt, Wisconsin; Vincent Ledvina, Alaska; and Steve Luther, Oregon

4:30 PM • Space Weather Live Sponsorship Spotlight: Founder Sander Vancanneyt and SW Analyst Marcel de Bont (Time Tentative)

5:00 PM • Group Photo

6:00 PM • Cash Bar Opens

6:30 PM • Dinner (included) and Aurora Summit Slideshow

7:30 PM: Aurora Chasing Panel Discussion with Q&A — Hear from five panelists on all things Aurora Chasing!

9:30 • Hands-On Photography Clinic, with Greg Ash & Others

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

8am: Hot Breakfast (Included)

9am: How I Got The Shot! Photographer Stories & Strategy
Featuring Northern Lights Photographer of the Year Justin Miller, Milky Way Photography of the Year Marc Rassell, Michigan State Parks Ambassador Jen Selwa, and Conservationist Michelle Sadauskas

10am: Featuring the Photographer of Spirits Dancing: An Ojibwe Perspective on the Night Sky, with Travis Novitsky

11am: Aurora Jeopardy! Trivia

11:30am: Raffle & Prizes

12:15pm: Farewell

12:30pm: Lunch on your own

A Look Back at Aurora Summit 24 Bootcamp

Back by popular demand! Mark your calendars and join our host Greg Ash for a Pre-Conference Aurora Photography Bootcamp!!

This add-on is completely optional, and it will begin Friday morning before the conference opens. Those attending the bootcamp may want to check in on Thursday night. Bring your camera, lenses, remotes, tripods and trackers to get in gear for a weekend of astrophotography.

Get your camera dialed in for a weekend of aurora photography!

AS24 Photography Bootcamp Schedule

9:00 – 9:15:    Introduction and Background
9:15 – 9:45:    Gear for Night Photography

  • Choosing a tripod
  • Leaving the strap off
  • Using lens 2.8 or better and why
  • Weather-sealed cameras
  • Remote shutter or delayed shutter and why
  • Using an intervalometer            

9:45 – 10:00:  How to Manual Focus: The first most important step

  • Ways to focus
  • Learn your camera in the dark before you head out
  • Know how to adjust ISO, shutter, aperture.

10:00 – 10:15: Break

10:15 – 11:30: Night Settings

  • Starting settings
  • Adjusting for the light
  • Fast aurora versus slow settings
  • Milky Way settings

11:30 – 12:00: Forecasting for Beginners

  • What to look for to head out to chase.

12:00 – 1:30:              Lunch

1:30 – 2:30:                Let’s Talk Composition

2:30 – 3:45:                Let’s Talk about Basic Editing – Lightroom Classic

  • Basic Sliders
  • Sky Selection
  • Radial and Linear Gradients
  • What do you want to emphasize?
  • What makes an image appealing?

3:45 – 4:30: Small Group Support: In small groups, we will help each other apply specific camera settings and functions, with the support of brand ambassadors in the room.

5:00pm – Bootcamp concludes; Aurora Summit 24 begins.

Aurora Summit 24
Admission: $319, plus fees
Dates: Friday, Oct. 18 — Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024
With optional pre-conference program 9am-5pm, Friday, Oct. 18
Venue & Host Hotel: Legendary Waters Resort
Location: Red Cliff, Wisconsin (May also appear as Bayfield)

Aurora Summit 23 Recap:

Conference Schedule

The conference schedule for Aurora Summit 23 is taking shape below. Any updates to the schedule will be posted here. Activities and times may be subject to change.

AURORA SUMMIT 23
Friday, Nov. 3 — Sunday, Nov. 5, 2022
Legendary Waters Resort
Red Cliff, Wisconsin

PRE-CONFERENCE PROGRAM
AS23 Photography Bootcamp
9am-5pm, Friday, November 3

Breakfast on your own

9 am – Noon: Aurora Photography 101
Our hands-on photography clinic will show you the Aurora Photograpy 101. You will learn all about the gear, lenses, setup, and techniques used for Aurora Photography. You’ll also learn about common problems and solutions photographers run into.

Noon – 2pm: Break for lunch (included)

2pm – 5pm: Image Editing 101
Bring your laptop computer to learn how to edit your aurora photos in Lightroom and Photoshop with a brief introduction to time-lapse photography. You’ll learn how to work with RAW images and edit for saturation, exposure and noise, among other things.

5pm: Official conference program begins, Dinner at 7pm (included)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

2 – 5pm: Registration, Legendary Waters Resort

4pm: Cash Bar Opens

4:15pm: Aurora Chasers Atlas! Find Travel Companions from Your Region

4:30-5:30pm: Meet and Greet; Origins: What’s Your Origin Story with Aurora Chasing?
(This informal programming will begin as guests arrive)

7pm: Welcome, Dinner (Included)

8pm: Aurora Chasing Panel Discussion with Q&A — Hear from five panelists on all things Aurora Chasing!

9:30pm: Aurora Photography Hands-On Clinic (Focusing, Composing, Camera & Exposure Settings)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4

8am: Hot Breakfast (included)

8:30-9:15am Breakout Session I
• “Northern Lights in Motion: How to Capture Timelapse of the Night Sky” (B), with Vincent Ledvina
• “Can You Hear the Northern Lights? We Look at the Evidence” (B) with Bob King
• “With New Eyes: Discovering the Beauty of the Apostle Islands and its Dark Skies” (B), with Jeff Rennicke

9:30-10:15am Breakout Session II
• “Catching Aurora on Camera all Year: From Extreme Cold to Chasing the Elusive Summer Aurora” (B), with Jeanine Holowatuik
• “DSO Photography: Learning to Process Deep Sky Objects (DSO) with a Camera and Telescope using Deep Sky Stacker & Photoshop” (A), with Christian Harris
• “Native Culture: Introduction to Our Anishinaabe Culture and the Meaning of Place,” (B) with Anna Martineau Merritt

10:30-11:15am Breakout Session III
• Break the Code: A Light-Hearted Visual Guide to Viewing and Photographing the Aurora” (I) with Angela Botner
• “Beyond the Milky Way! Capturing Other Portions of the Night Sky with Tips on Stacking and Blending” (I) with Marybeth Kiczenski
• “Magnetic Flux Ropes: Recognizing their Signature in RTSW and Predicting Aurora Strength” (A) with Christian Harris

11:30-12:15pm Breakout Session IV
• “Solar Flares, CMEs, and the Carrington Event, Oh My!” (I), with Jacob Richards
• “Camera vs. the Human Eye for Aurora Viewing” (B) with Chandresh Kedhambadi
• “Best Practices and Strategies for Answering the Age-Old Question of ‘When Will the Aurora Be Out?’” (B) with Vincent Ledvina

12:30-2:30pm Lunch (Included)

2:30 PM • Aurora Forecasting Panel Discussion

3:30 PM • “Arcs, Pillars, Dunes, SARs, Coronas, STEVE and More — A Celebration and Explanation of the Aurora’s Many Forms” featuring Bob King (Full Group Session)

4:30 PM • “A Journey of Discovery with CK Nights” featuring Chandresh Kedhambadi — Experiences chasing the Northern Lights in Western Canada, including the science behind the Aurora, safety aspects of Aurora Chasing, adding more dimension to Aurora photography, and citizen science with a shout-out to STEVE (Full Group Session)

5:30 PM • Group Photo

6:30 PM • Dinner (included) and Aurora Summit Slideshow

7:30 PM • Keynote Speaker Alan Dyer

9:30 • Hands-On Aurora Time-Lapse Image-Capture Clinic – Rain, Clouds of Clear! with Mike Shaw

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5

8am: Hot Breakfast (Included)

9am: The Science, Art and Culture of Aurora Chasing Below the 45th Parallel, with Melissa Kaelin

10am: Aurora Chasing Travelogue, with Dixie Burbank

11am: Aurora Jeopardy! Trivia

11:30am: Raffle & Grand Prize

12:15pm: Farewell

12:30pm: Lunch on your own

All activities take place at the host hotel, Legendary Waters Resort, located on Lake Superior’s shore in Red Cliff, Wisconsin. 

Check out our Events page to learn about the presenters!

All activities take place at the host hotel, Legendary Waters Resort, located on Lake Superior’s shore in Red Cliff, Wisconsin. 

Check out our Events page to learn about the presenters!

Educational Sessions

  • “With New Eyes: Discovering the Beauty of the Apostle Islands and its Dark Skies” (B), with Jeff Rennicke
  • “Northern Lights in Motion: How to Capture Timelapse of the Night Sky” (B), with Vincent Ledvina
  • “Can You Hear the Northern Lights? We Look at the Evidence” (B) with Bob King
  • “Catching Aurora on Camera all Year: From Extreme Cold to Chasing the Elusive Summer Aurora” (B), with Jeanine Holowatuik
  • “DSO Photography: Learning to Process Deep Sky Objects (DSO) with a Camera and Telescope using Deep Sky Stacker & Photoshop” (A), with Christian Harris 
  • “Native Culture: Introduction to Our Anishinaabe Culture and the Meaning of Place,” (B) with Anna Martineau Merritt
  • “Break the Code: A Light-Hearted Visual Guide to Viewing and Photographing the Aurora” (I) with Angela Botner 
  •  “Beyond the Milky Way! Capturing Other Portions of the Night Sky with Tips on Stacking and Blending” (I) with Marybeth Kiczenski
  • “Magnetic Flux Ropes: Recognizing their Signature in RTSW and Predicting Aurora Strength” (A) with Christian Harris
  • “Solar Flares, CMEs, and the Carrington Event, Oh My!” (I), with Jacob Richards
  • “Camera vs. the Human Eye for Aurora Viewing” (B) with Chandresh Kedhambadi
  • “Best Practices and Strategies for Answering the Age-Old Question of ‘When Will the Aurora Be Out?’” (B) with Vincent Ledvina
  • “Arcs, Pillars, Dunes, SARs, Coronas, STEVE and More — A Celebration and Explanation of the Aurora’s Many Forms” featuring Bob King (Full Group Session)
  •  “A Journey of Discovery with CK Nights” featuring Chandresh Kedhambadi (Full Group Session)
  • Aurora Photography Hands-On Clinic (Focusing, Composing, Camera & Exposure Settings) with Mike Shaw (Friday night)
  • Hands-On Aurora Time-Lapse Image-Capture Clinic – Rain, Clouds of Clear! with Mike Shaw (Saturday night)
  • The Science, Art and Culture of Aurora Chasing Below the 45th Parallel: Author Talk Featuring Co-Founder Melissa F. Kaelin (Saturday)
  • Aurora Chasing Travelogue: Travelogue Featuring Co-Founder Dixie Burbank (Saturday)

Recap: Aurora Summit 22

Aurora Summit 22

We’re thrilled to bring you a new and expanded Aurora Summit 22! The annual conference will be held in person in the fall. Watch this page for updates!

During Aurora Summit 22, we will feature Keynote Speaker Dr. Tamitha Skov, as well as many new presenters!

We’re excited to share that the conference will feature the following presenters:

Featuring the 5th Annual Aurora Summit

At Aurora Summit 22, we will feature Keynote Speaker Dr. Tamitha Skov, the credentialed space weather physicist known as Space Weather Woman! Aurora Summit 22 will take place at Legendary Waters Resort in Red Cliff, Wisconsin, near Bayfield and just south of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore!

We’re planning a phenomenal weekend, featuring opportunities to hear from celebrities in the Aurora Chasing and Storm Chasing world, as well as scientists, photographers, artists, storytellers, astronomers and more. The event includes:

  • Featured Keynote Speaker: Dr. Tamitha Skov, Space Weather Woman
  • Educational Sessions
  • Night Sky Photography Clinics
  • Photography and Photo Editing Workshops
  • BYOL Light Painting
  • Panel Discussion
  • Travelogue
  • Expert Roundtable for questions on Nikon, Canon, Sony and Olympus
  • Swag, Raffle Prizes & More

2022 Keynote Speaker Dr. Tamitha Skov

Our celebration of the Northern Lights will feature Dr. Tamitha Skov, the space weather physicist known as Space Weather Woman!

Skov is a credentialed space weather forecaster who has been helping the public understand the effects of space weather on our daily lives since 2013. She works primarily in the fields of solar and space physics research and in the testing of spacecraft materials in realistic space radiation environments. Her forecasting work as the “Space Weather Woman” is widely known on social media and she has been featured on several television shows for The Weather Channel and The History Channel. She has also been featured on CBS News, and in Popular Science Magazine and MIT Technology Review.

Thanks to social media like Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, TWiT TV, Instagram and Periscope, she has helped nurture a vibrant Space Weather community of 98,000+ people, and growing. These people range from astronauts and satellite operators, to civil and military auxiliary radio operators, GPS specialists, scientists, and of course, aurora photographers. As this community has grown, the people in it have become her extended family. She strives to keep everyone informed and connected to each other and to the spectacular events the Sun sends our way. She will present “The Rise and Relevance of Space Weather in the 21st Century.”

“The Rise and Relevance of Space Weather in the 21st Century”

From the disruption of satellite GPS signals to the beautiful light displays of the aurora, Space Weather has a multi-faceted impact on life on Earth. Although it remains an extremely difficult topic to convey, new modes of communicating online are making space weather information more accessible to the public. In return, the modern world’s need for timely and accurate information is driving more robust observation and forecasting efforts by academics and citizen scientists alike. Join me as we examine the rise of the Space Weather community in the 21st century. What solar phenomena affect our daily lives? What is driving the growth in awareness of space weather? Find the answers to these questions and discover what it means to the future of our society as we weather the rise of Solar Cycle 25.

Our Presenters

In addition to Keynote Speaker Dr. Tamitha Skov, we will feature many new and returning presenters!

We’re excited to share that Aurora Summit 22 will feature the following presenters:

  • Vincent Ledvina, Space Weather Scholar who developed the North Dakota Dual Aurora Camera with Aurorasaurus
  • Jeanine Holowatuik, Northern Escape Photography
  • John O’Neal NC Stargazer, NASA Solar System Ambassador, author, solar imager and admin of SOLARACTIVITY
  • Bob King, Author and Blogger at Astro Bob’s Astronomy for Everyone
  • Justin Anderson, Admin of Manitoba Aurora and Astronomy and Aurorasaurus Ambassador
  • Anna Martineau Merritt, Misty Pine Photography and Crafts, Native American Studies expert and member of Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Indians
  • Steve Luther, SkyVista Photography by Steve Luther and International Educator
  • Marybeth Kiczenski, Shelbydiamondstar Photography
  • Dave Falkner, NASA Solar System Ambassador, author and Minnesota Astronomical Society member
  • Melonie Elvebak, Astrophotographer and Aurora Chaser
  • Dr. Mike Shaw, Author and owner of Mike Shaw Photography

Click the link to register for Aurora Summit 22.

Have a question? Check out our FAQ.

Don’t miss a thing! If you’re on Facebook, join our group for alumni, speakers, registered guests and anyone who’s interested in attending the annual Aurora Summit: Facebook.com/groups/AuroraSummit

New in 2022! Mark your calendars and join our host Mike Shaw Photography for a Pre-Conference Aurora Photography Bootcamp!!

This add-on is completely optional, and it will begin Friday morning before the conference opens. Those attending the bootcamp may want to check in on Thursday night. Bring your camera, lenses, tripods and trackers to get in gear for a weekend of astrophotography.

Get your camera dialed in for a weekend of aurora photography!

Morning Session
9 a.m. – Noon: Our hands-on photography clinic will show you the best camera and exposure settings for aurora photography, and how to manually focus and compose photos in the dark. Bring your camera, tripod and gear for plenty of practice.
Noon – 2 p.m.: Break for lunch (included)

Afternoon Session
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Bring your laptop computer to learn how to edit your aurora photos in photo editing software. You’ll learn how to work with RAW images and edit for saturation, exposure and noise, among other things. 

With the Photography Bootcamp, you will learn the basics during the day, so that you’re ready to start shooting on the very first night of Aurora Summit 22!

Coming Soon! Check back to see the full Aurora Summit 22 Schedule.

Aurora Summit 22

We’re thrilled to bring you a new and expanded Aurora Summit 22! The annual conference will be held in person in the fall. Watch this page for updates!

During Aurora Summit 22, we will feature Keynote Speaker Dr. Tamitha Skov, as well as many new presenters!

We’re excited to share that the conference will feature the following presenters:

• Vincent Ledvina, Space Weather Scholar who developed the North Dakota Dual Aurora Camera with Aurorasaurus
• Jeanine Holowatuik, Northern Escape Photography
• John ONeal NC Stargazer, NASA Solar System Ambassador, author, solar imager and admin of SOLARACTIVITY
• Bob King, Author and Blogger at Astro Bob’s Astronomy for Everyone
• Justin Anderson, Admin of Manitoba Aurora and Astronomy and Aurorasaurus Ambassador
• Anna Martineau Merritt, Misty Pine Photography and Crafts, Native American Studies expert and member of Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Indians
• Steve Luther, SkyVista Photography by Steve Luther and International Educator
• Marybeth Kiczenski, Shelbydiamondstar Photography
• Dave Falkner, NASA Solar System Ambassador, author and Minnesota Astronomical Society member
• Melonie Elvebak, Astrophotographer and Aurora Chaser

The Aurora Chasing panel on Friday evening will feature:

• Dr. Tamitha Skov, Credentialed Solar Plasma Physicist known as Space Weather Woman
• Christian Harris, Founder of Space Weather Trackers
• Marybeth Kiczenski, Michigan Aurora Chasers Admin
• Justin Anderson, Manitoba Aurora and Astronomy Admin

Aurora Summit 23
Date: Friday, Nov. 3 – Sunday, Nov. 5, 2022
— WITH OPTIONAL PRE-CONFERENCE BOOTCAMP ON FRIDAY, NOV 3., 9AM-5PM —
Location: Legendary Waters Resort, Red Cliff, Wisconsin
Admission: $289 (plus fees)
Register: TheAuroraSummit.com
#AuroraSummit22
*Friday programming is optional, and you may want to stay Thursday night. The official conference will begin with check-in at 2pm Friday.

Aurora Summit 22

Conference Schedule

The conference schedule for Aurora Summit 22 is below. Any updates to the schedule will be posted here. Activities and times may be subject to change.

AURORA SUMMIT 22
Friday, Nov. 4 — Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022
Legendary Waters Resort
Red Cliff, Wisconsin

PRE-CONFERENCE PROGRAM: 9AM-5PM FRIDAY
Photography Bootcamp

Breakfast on your own

9am – Noon: Hands-on photography clinic for camera settings and exposure for aurora photography, manual focus, and photo composition in the dark.

Noon – 2 pm: Break for lunch (included)

2pm – 5pm: Interactive demonstration on star tracker set-up straight out of the box, from start to finish. Bring yours and learn how to set it up, polar align it, and attach a camera and lens.

5pm: Official conference program begins, Dinner at 7pm (included)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4

2 – 5pm: Registration, Legendary Waters Resort

4pm: Cash Bar Opens

5pm: Aurora Chasers Atlas! Meet Travel Companions (approximate start time)

7pm: Welcome, Dinner (Included)

8pm: Aurora Chasing Panel Discussion with Q&A

9pm: Night Photography on your Own

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5

8am: Hot Breakfast (included)

9-9:45am: Session I
a. “The Fundamentals of Aurora Photography,” (B) with Jeanine Holowatuik
b. “What Is the Aurora, How Does it Happen and When Should I Look?” (B) with Bob King
c. “W.O.W. (Way Out in Washington): Aurora Chasing in the Pacific Northwest”, (B) with Steve Luther

10-10:45am: Session II
a.”Taking Your Images Further: Using blending and tracking to create beautiful high definition photos,” (I) Marybeth Kiczenski
b. “Voyager and the Heliosphere,” (B) Dave Falkner
c. “From Northern Lights Newbie to Aurora Addict: My Journey and Roadmap to Successfully Capturing the Beautiful Borealis,” (B) Steve Luther

11-11:45am: Session III
a. “How to Use a Star Tracker and What You Can Do,” (A) Melonie Elvebak
b. “The Parker Solar Probe, the Solar Orbiter and Space Weather Reporting,” (I) John ONeal NC Stargazer
c. “Native Culture: Introduction to Our Anishinaabe Culture and the Meaning of Place,” (B) Anna Martineau Merritt

Noon-2:30pm: Lunch & Vendors (Lunch included)

2:30-3:15pm: Group Presentation by Vincent Ledvina
The Sun-Earth Connection: The Science and Processes behind the Northern Lights” (A)
Vincent Ledvina 

3:30-4:15pm: Group Presentation by Bob King
“Upcoming Celestial Events You Don’t Want to Miss,” (B) Bob King

4:30-5:15pm: Group Presentation by Justin Anderson
“Color in Lights: Chasing the Aurora Colorblind,” (I) Justin Anderson

5:30pm: Group Photo

6pm: Cash Bar Opens

7pm: Banquet Featuring Aurora Summit Slideshow (Dinner included)

8pm: Keynote Speaker Dr. Tamitha Skov

9:30pm: Night Demonstrations & Photography Clinics

10–11pm: BYOL Light Painting Party

Interactive! Bring your own light toys, light strips, flashlights, and costumes to get in on the fun!
Dusk to Dawn: Group Aurora Chase

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6

8am: Hot Breakfast (Included)

9am: Travelogue

10:30am: Aurora Jeopardy!

11:30am: Raffle & Grand Prize

12:20pm: Farewell

12:30pm: Lunch on your own

All activities take place at the host hotel, Legendary Waters Resort, located on Lake Superior’s shore in Red Cliff, Wisconsin. 

Check out our Events page to learn about the presenters!

Educational Sessions

  • “The Sun-Earth Connection: The Science and Processes behind the Northern Lights,” (A) Vincent Ledvina 
  • “The Fundamentals of Aurora Photography,” (B) Jeanine Holowatuik
  • “The Parker Solar Probe, the Solar Orbiter and Space Weather Reporting,” (I) John ONeal NC Stargazer
  • “What Is the Aurora, How Does it Happen and When Should I Look?” (B) Bob King
  • “Upcoming Celestial Events You Don’t Want to Miss,” (B) Bob King
  • “Color in Lights: Chasing the Aurora Colorblind,” (I) Justin Anderson
  • “Native Culture: Introduction to Our Anishinaabe Culture and the Meaning of Place,” (B) Anna Martineau Merritt
  • “Becoming an Aurora Chaser: From Beginner to Addict,” (B) Steve Luther
  • W.O.W. (Way Out in Washington): Aurora Chasing in the Pacific Northwest”, (B) Steve Luther
  • “Taking Your Images Further: Using blending and tracking to create beautiful high definition photos,” (I) Marybeth Kiczenski
  • “Voyager and the Heliosphere,” (B) Dave Falkner
  • “How to Use a Star Tracker and What You Can Do,” (A) Melonie Elvebak

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Recap: Aurora Summit 21

We’re excited to bring you Aurora Summit 21! The annual conference will be held in person in the fall. Watch this page for updates!

During Aurora Summit 21, we will feature Keynote Speaker Marybeth Kiczenski, an adventurer and professional photographer! Aurora Summit 21 will take place at the Harbor View Event Center in Washburn, Wisconsin, just south of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore!

For discounted rates at the host hotel, call and mention the Aurora Summit!
RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/886028538571070

NOW IN PERSON! Aurora Summit 21
Date: Friday, Nov. 5 – Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021
Location: Harbor View Event Center, Washburn, Wisconsin
Admission: $209 Full Registration, includes all meals.
Register: AuroraSummit21.eventzilla.net
#AuroraSummit21

We’re planning a great weekend, featuring opportunities to hear from celebrities in the Aurora Chasing and Storm Chasing world, as well as scientists, photographers, artists, storytellers, astronomers and more. The event includes:

  • Featured Keynote Speaker
  • Educational Sessions
  • Night Sky Photography Clinics
  • Photography and Photo Editing Workshops
  • Panel Discussion
  • Travelogue
  • Swag, Raffle Prizes & More

If we don’t see the Northern Lights and photograph it together at the Aurora Summit, you’ll leave knowing how to capture a good display on your own!

Coming Soon! Check back to see the Conference Schedule.

2021 Educational Sessions

The Aurora Summit 21 presentations will include:

  1. Illuminating the Dark: From Astrophotography to Light Painting (I), with Jamie Seidel
  2. Nights of Red and Green — An In-depth Look at What Causes the Aurora (B), with Bob King
  3. Aurora Forecasting Techniques: Behind the Scenes with the Upper Midwest Aurora Chasers (I), with Jess Kowalke
  4. Astrotourism: Traveling to See the Light (B), with Dixie Burbank
  5. From Galaxies to Starry Nights I: Acquiring Images with Star Trackers (A), with Marybeth Kiczenski
  6. From Galaxies to Starry Nights II: Putting Together What You Captured on Camera (A), with Marybeth Kiczenski
  7. Creating a Photographic Presence in a Digital World (I), with Christy Turner
  8. Camera Settings at Night (B), with Heidi Pinkerton
  9. Pointers for Post Processing Photos (I), with Christy Turner
  10. Composition: Advanced Techniques to Take Your Night Sky Images to the Next Level (A), with Heidi Pinkerton
  11. Aurora Australis to Borealis: Legend & Myth around the World (B), with Melissa Kaelin
  12. Night Photography Clinics, including Focusing in the Dark (Late Friday and Saturday) (B,I,A), with Mike Shaw
  13. A Detailed Update on Solar Cycle 25: Where We’re At, Where We Might Go (A), with Christian Harris
  14. Nocturnal Sightings: Are UFOs for Real? (B), with Bob King
  15. Protecting Our Night Skies: Light Pollution and Prevention (B), with Jeremy Evans
  16. Astronomy & Astrophotography in our National Parks and Public Lands of the West (I), with Jeremy Evans
  17. A Fool Proof Formula: How to Capture Your First Northern Lights Display (B), with Melissa Kaelin

B: Absolute Beginner
I: Intermediate
A: Advanced

2021 Featured Presenters

We’re excited to announce the featured presenters for Aurora Summit 21! Follow our social media channels to learn more.

Aurora Summit 21 Presenters:

  • Keynote Speaker Marybeth Kiczenski, Adventure Photographer & Writer
  • Bob King, Author & Photojournalist at AstroBob
  • Jess Kowalke, Upper Midwest Aurora Chasers Admin
  • Jeremy Evans, International Dark Sky Association Delegate
  • Christian Harris, Founder of Space Weather Trackers
  • Christy Turner, NASA Citizen Scientist & Travel Photographer
  • Jamie Seidel, Photographer, Light Painter & Founder & Admin of Stars, Star Trails and Timelapses
  • Heidi Pinkerton, Professional Photographer

Adding more great topics, our founders will also present! They include

  • Mike Shaw, Host, Co-founder, Author and Night Sky Professor
  • Dixie J. Burbank, Co-founder, Astrotourism Guide and Great Lakes Aurora Shooters Admin
  • Melissa F. Kaelin, Co-founder, Writer, NASA Social Media Ambassador and Founder & Admin of Michigan Aurora Chasers

2021 Featured Panelists

The panel discussion includes:

  • Steve Luther
  • Nikki Gordon
  • Jeremy Evans
  • Madison Clell

2021 Conference Schedule

Aurora Summit 21, the fourth annual conference, will be held in person on the weekend of Nov. 5-7, 2021, at Harbor View Event Center in Washburn, Wisconsin.

The Aurora Summit will feature a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, educational sessions, hands-on astrophotography demonstrations, a banquet with an Aurora Slideshow, and many opportunities for night sky photography. We also have some special features planned!

In 2021, we’re proud to present Keynote Speaker Marybeth Kiczenski, an adventurer and professional photographer who writes for Milky Way Photographers and was featured in Sky & Telescope for her work with “urban deepscaping” to capture the Comet NEOWISE over the Mackinac Bridge.

More details will be posted as they become available.

Check out our Events page to learn about the presenters!

2021 Schedule

Below is the conference schedule for Aurora Summit 21. Any updates to the schedule will be posted here.

AURORA SUMMIT 21
Friday, Nov. 5 — Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021
Washburn, Wisconsin
All activities take place at the Harbor View Event Center, located on Lake Superior’s shore in Washburn, Wisconsin. The host hotel is the Washburn Inn, with a Quality Inn located nearby. 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5
2:00 – 5:00pm: Registration, Harbor View Event Center
4:00pm: Cash Bar Opens
5:00pm: Aurora Chasers Atlas! Meet Travel Companions
7:00pm: Welcome, Dinner Buffet (Included)
8:00pm: Aurora Chasing Panel with Q&A
9:30pm: How to Focus in the Dark, Washburn Inn Lawn

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6
8:00am Continental Breakfast (Included)
9:00 – 9:45am: Session I
• Aurora Forecasting with a UMAC Admin (B), with Jess Kowalke
• Camera Settings at Night (B), with Heidi Pinkerton
• Astrotourism: Traveling to See the Light (B), with Dixie Burbank

10:00 – 10:45am: Session II
• Behind the Scenes with the Upper Midwest Aurora Chasers (I), with Jess Kowalke
• Deepscapes: What to Shoot with a Portable Star Tracker and How to Set One Up (A), with Mike Shaw
• Australis to Borealis: Aurora Legend & Myth around the World (B), with Melissa Kaelin

11:00 – 11:45: Session III
• Nights of Red and Green — An In-depth Look at What Causes the Aurora (B), with Bob King
• From Galaxies to Starry Nights I: Acquiring Images with Star Trackers (A), with Marybeth Kiczenski

Noon – 1:30pm: Lunch (Included)

2:00 – 2:45pm: Session IV
• A Detailed Update on Solar Cycle 25: Where We’re At, Where We Might Go (A), with Christian Harris
• Protecting Our Night Skies: Light Pollution and Prevention (B), with Jeremy Evans
• Basic Equipment for You and Your Camera (B), with Dixie Burbank

3:00 – 3:45 pm: Session V
• Astronomy & Astrophotography in our National Parks and Public Lands of the West (I), with Jeremy Evans
• From Galaxies to Starry Nights II: Putting Together What You Captured on Camera (A), with Marybeth Kiczenski
• Nocturnal Sightings: Are UFOs for Real? (B), with Bob King

4:00 – 4:45 pm: Session VI
• Illuminating the Dark: From Astrophotography to Light Painting (I), with Jamie Seidel
• Composition: Advanced Techniques to Take Your Night Sky Images to the Next Level (A), with Heidi Pinkerton
• A Fool-Proof Formula: How to Catch Your First Aurora Display (B), with Melissa Kaelin

4:00pm: Cash Bar Opens
5:00pm: Group Photo on Washburn Inn Lawn

6:00-9:00pm: Banquet (Included)
• Aurora Summit Slideshow
7:00 – 8:30pm: Keynote Speaker Marybeth Kiczenski
9:30pm – 2:00am: Night Demonstrations & Photography Clinics, including How to Focus in the Dark, with Mike Shaw, Washburn Inn Lawn
Dusk to Dawn: Aurora Chasing outside the Washburn Inn
10:00 – 11:00pm: Light Painting Party
• Interactive! Bring your own light toys, light strips, flashlights, and costumes to get in on the fun!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7
8am – 9am: Continental Breakfast (Included)
9:30am: Aurora Jeopardy! Wrap-up, Giveaways & Raffle Prizes
11:00-11:30am: Check-out, Farewell

Opportunities After Hours

At the Aurora Summit, there’s time to enjoy other activities on your own, before and after each conference day. Located on the hotel property, Lake Superior’s shore provides an excellent view for photographing the Northern Lights.

Opportunities after hours include:
• Sunrise & Sunset Photography over Lake Superior
• Gather for a Bonfire on Lake Superior‘s Shore
• Aurora Chasing
• Night Photography
• Light Painting

Get event updates on Facebook or Twitter! We also encourage you to post with the hashtag: #AuroraSummit21

_____________________________________________________________________________

Recap: POSTPONED Aurora Summit 20

2020 Conference Schedule

Due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, the 4th Annual Aurora Summit was postponed from 2020 to 2021.

POSTPONED:

Join us for the Aurora Summit! This three-day workshop celebrates the art, culture, science, and photography of the Aurora Borealis.

POSTPONED: Aurora Summit 20
Friday, Sept. 25 – Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020
The Washburn Inn & Harbor View Event Center
Washburn, Wisconsin
Registration Website: Pending
#AuroraSummit20

We’re planning a great weekend, featuring opportunities to hear from celebrities in the Aurora Chasing and Storm Chasing world, as well as scientists, photographers, artists, storytellers, astronomers and more. The event includes:

  • Featured Keynote Speaker
  • Educational Sessions
  • Night Sky Photography
  • Photography and/or Post Processing Workshops
  • Panel Discussion
  • Travelogue
  • Aurora Jeopardy
  • 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!

Want to know what an Aurora Summit looks like? In 2019, we offered an amazing Schedule!

Recap: Aurora Summit 19

During Aurora Summit 19, we featured Keynote Speaker Chris Ratcliff, the admin of the Alberta Aurora Chasers, and leader of the citizen science behind STEVE, the sub auroral arc! Aurora Summit 19 took place in a new location — Washburn, Wisconsin, just south of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore!

For discounted rates at the host hotel, call and mention the Aurora Summit!
RSVP on Facebook!

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

2019 Featured Panelists

The panel discussion included:
• Chris Ratzlaff, Admin of the Albert Aurora Chasers
• Christy Turner, an internationally-commissioned travel and lifestyle photographer
• Royce Bair, Founder of NightScaper
• Brian Murphy Slattum, Admin of Upper Midwest Aurora Chasers
• Jackie LaPointe, World traveler and night sky photographer

2019 Conference Schedule

Aurora Summit 19, the third annual conference, will feature a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, educational sessions, hands-on astrophotography demonstrations, a banquet with an Aurora Slideshow, and many opportunities for night sky photography. We also have some special features planned!

In 2019, we’re proud to present Keynote Speaker Chris Ratzlaff, admin of the Alberta Aurora Chasers and one of the citizen scientists who discovered the sub auroral arc, known as STEVE.

Check out our Events page to learn about the presenters!

2019 Schedule

Below is the conference schedule for Aurora Summit 19. Any updates to the schedule will be posted here.

Times and activities may be subject to change.

AURORA SUMMIT 19
Friday, Nov. 1 — Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019
Washburn, Wisconsin
All activities take place at the Harbor View Event Center, located on Lake Superior’s shore in Washburn, Wisconsin. The host hotel is the Washburn Inn, with a Quality Inn located nearby. 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
2:00 – 5:00pm: Registration, Harbor View Event Center
5:00pm: Meet and Greet, Cash Bar Open
6:00pm: Aurora Chasers Atlas! Meet Travel Companions
7:00pm: Welcome, Dinner Buffet (Included)
7:30pm: Aurora Chasing Panel with Q&A
9:30pm: How to Focus in the Dark, Washburn Inn Lawn

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
7:00 – 8:00am Continental Breakfast (Included)
8:00 – 8:55am: Session I
• Aurora Forecasting for Beginners, with Bob King (B)
• Essentials for Aurora Photography, with Christy Turner (B)
• Shooting the Milky Way, with Mark Ellis (I)
9:10 – 10:05am: Session II
• Discovering STEVE, with Chris Ratzlaff (B)
• Astrophotography with Equatorial Trackers, with Paul Nelson (I)
• Deep Freeze Photography: Tips for Subzero Shooting, with Amber Nichols (B)
10:20 – 11:15am: Session III
• Know Your Sky, Know What to Shoot, with Bob King (B)
• Night Sky Composites and Blends: A How-to Guide, with Mike Shaw (A)
• Smartphone Astrophotography, with Christian Harris (B)
12:00 – 1:30pm: Soup & Sandwich Lunch (Included)
1:35 – 2:30pm: Session IV
• Mysteries of Solar Wind Data Revealed, with Christian Harris (A)
• Intro to Time Lapse Capture & Editing, with Mark Ellis (I)
• Urban Legends of Space: Astro Science v. Pseudoscience, with Bob King (B)
2:00pm: Cash Bar Opens
2:45 – 3:40pm: Session V
• Secrets of the Goddess of the Dawn: Aurora Myth & Legend, with Melissa Kaelin (B)
• Deep Sky Photography, with Matthew Moses (A)
• The Light Painting Toolbox, with Roger Feldhans (B)
3:55 – 4:50pm: Session VI
• NASA’s Spectra Lens and the Sub Auroral Arc, with Christy Turner (I)
• Post Processing Night Sky Photos, with Matthew Moses (I)
• Phenomenal Light Painting, with Jamie Rabold (I)
4:50 – 5:00pm: Group Photo on Washburn Inn Lawn

6:00-9:00pm: Banquet (Included)
• Aurora Summit Slideshow
7:30 – 9:00pm Keynote Speaker Chris Ratzlaff
9:30-11pm: Hands-on Night Demonstrations
9:30pm: How to Focus in the Dark, Washburn Inn Lawn
• Outdoor demonstration led by Mike Shaw and others.
10:00 – 11:00pm Light Painting Party, Thompson’s West End Park
• Outdoor demonstration led by Light Painters Roger Feldhans, Jamie Rabold and others.
Interactive! Bring your own light toys, light strips and costumes to get in on the fun!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
8:00 – 9:30am Continental Breakfast
Sunday Special Programs
9:30am Aurora Chasing Travelogue
• Presentation led by Dixie J. Burbank and others.
10:30 – 11:00am Break for check-out, Book Signing
11:00am – 12:30pm Grand Finale
Aurora Trivia
Photo Review
Raffle Prizes, including two grand prizes
• LRTimelapse 5 Pro Software License & 2-hour session with Mike Shaw Photography
12:30pm Farewell, Lunch on your own

Opportunities After Hours

At the Aurora Summit, there’s time to enjoy other activities on your own, before and after each conference day. Located on the hotel property, Lake Superior’s shore provides an excellent view for photographing the Northern Lights.

Opportunities after hours include:
• Sunrise & Sunset Photography over Lake Superior
• Beach Bonfire on Lake Superior‘s Shore
• Aurora Chasing
• Night Photography
• Light Painting

Get event updates on Facebook or Twitter! We also encourage you to post with the hashtag: #AuroraSummit19

Recap: Aurora Summit 18

We are proud to announce the line-up of presenters for the Aurora Summit! On top of a full weekend program, Aurora Summit 18 will feature many breakout sessions, offering 12 presentations on Saturday related to the Northern Lights, Photography and the Night Sky.

During the simultaneous breakout sessions, experts present a wide variety of topics about the art, culture, science and photography of the Northern Lights. Guests may choose one presentation from each time slot, for a total of four. New this year, presentations will be rated Beginner (B), Intermediate (I) or Advanced (A). Here is the line-up for the Aurora Summit 18!

2018 SATURDAY SESSIONS
Session I
1) Basics for Night Sky Photography (B), with Terry Mann
Find out what it takes to capture aurora photos at night, beginning with camera basics. From camera settings to focusing at night, you’ll get tips from a seasoned photographer that will help you get started in night photography or improve the quality of your images.
2) From Apps to Kp: Aurora Forecasting for Beginners (B), with Bob King
Get a crash course in aurora forecasting, with advice that’s fit for absolute beginners. You’ll learn what creates a stunning aurora display, how to track and monitor space weather, and where to find information that will help you plan your next aurora chase.
3) 10 Keys to Gain a Social Media Following (I), with Jerry Thoreson
Want to get more eyes on your photography and online presence using social media? This session will give you pointers on best practices to use on Instagram and Facebook that will generate more engagement and help you build your social media following.

Session II
1) Essential Software and Apps for Aurora Chasers and Photographers (B), with Michael Jordan
Gain a broad knowledge for creating better photographs of auroras using essential software and apps to develop a plan that you can execute on location, with a focus on artistic elements.
2) Aurora Culture and Mythology (B), with Jim Rock
Delve into the culture and mythology surrounding the Northern Lights with a native of the Dakota, who is also versed in Ojibwe heritage. You’ll learn about the meaning and connections people have formed with the Northern Lights, over the course of centuries.
3) The Juno Mission and Jupiter’s Aurora (B), with Dave Falkner
For two years, the Juno spacecraft has been in a polar orbit around Jupiter studying the planet and its atmosphere. Find out what discoveries it has made about Jupiter, with special emphasis on the Jovian aurora and contrasting it with Earth’s aurora.

Session III
1) Aurora Borealis: A Photographer’s Guide to Geomagnetic Midnight (I), with Michael Jordan
Get a brief overview of the key points a photographer should know and understand in order to to capture the aurora. The photographer has developed a simple recipe for aurora forecasting with the importance of geomagnetic midnight, as part of a guide that includes hierarchy modes of auroral morphology, the auroral atlas and onset observation sectors of storm phases.
2) Meet STEVE: The Aurora Getting All the Attention (I), with Bob King
Amateur aurora photographers helped uncover an unusual form of the Northern Lights called STEVE, which stands for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement. Pay a visit to this unique phenomenon to get to know STEVE better.
3) Aurora from Satellites Above and Photographers Below (I), with Margaret Mooney
VIIRS is the only satellite instrument able to detect the Aurora Borealis, producing only 4 to 6 snapshots of the North American aurora each night. This presentation will share stunning VIIRS Aurora imagery before describing an effort from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) to match satellite images with citizen science ground-based pictures.

Session IV
1) Deep-Sky with Your D-SLR: Getting the Right Camera Gear (I), with Joe Polecheck
Get an overview of what camera gear and apps work best for planning and capturing the Milky Way, the Northern Lights and light painted scenes. You’ll come away knowing what equipment to use at night, including camera bodies, lenses, and intervelometers.
2) No Aurora Yet? Camera Techniques to Capture Elusive Light (A), with Terry Mann
Don’t waste clear skies! Learn the different types of imaging you can do while you are waiting for the aurora to appear, drawing on the photographer’s experience with light painting, aurora, star trails, the moon, storms and lightning, and even solar eclipses.
3) Establishing an International Dark Sky Park (B), with Mary Stewart Adams
Be inspired to find your stars again! Hear from the leader who took the initiative to establish the ninth International Dark Sky Park in the world at the Headlands in Northwest Lower Michigan in 2011, which was the first park to ever receive the International Dark Sky Place of the Year Award. Learn how you can make an impact in your community with dark skies.

SUNDAY SPECIAL FEATURES
The Aurora Summit team is building out the Sunday schedule, and new features will be announced as the event approaches!
• Travelogue Presentation, with Alaska Adventurers
• Between Fire and Ice: Desert Nights and Arctic Lights, including an outlook on Celestial Sights for 2019, presented by Bob Kelley, Retired Planetarium Director of the Scobee Education Center Planetarium
• Grande Finale!

Sessions may be subject to change.

For details, check out the 2018 Conference Schedule.

2018 Featured Keynote Speaker

Mary Stewart Adams will present a keynote speech on “The Storyteller’s Night Sky,” during the Saturday evening banquet at Aurora Summit 18.

Mary is a self-described star lore historian who led the successful initiative to establish Michigan’s only International Dark Sky Park in 2011, and for nine years led the park to award-winning recognition for innovative programming and dark sky advocacy, including the top Pure Michigan “Pure Award” for stewardship of the state’s natural resources, and the first-ever International Dark Sky Place of the Year Award from the International Dark Sky Association, in 2017.

Mary has received many honors for her work, and travels extensively teaching a humanities-based approach to understanding the night sky. You can hear Mary’s “The Storyteller’s Night Sky” each week on Interlochen Public Radio and online. The traveling exhibit of her “Images from the Storyteller’s Night Sky” showcases years of storytelling through watercolor art by her sister, artist Patricia DeLisa.

Keynote: “The Storyteller’s Night Sky”

“The night sky can be read like a mighty book, the alphabet of which is formed out of the human striving of ages to understand life’s greatest mysteries. The ancient Egyptians built pyramids and aligned them to the stars; in the Middle Ages, mighty cathedrals aimed upward to the highest mystery; and here in the 21st century, this striving is still so consistent and pervasive, that scientists also position arrays of telescopes in specific places for getting the best views in order to answer the same questions. To “know the stars” through the striving of human beings is like building a ladder out of the greatest achievements in literature, in art, in research, agriculture, architecture, civic organization, the list is endless. And so the storyteller’s approach, which allows us to dip into the mythologies, the sometimes wild imaginations, and to the sciences for finding our own answers.”

— Mary Stewart Adams

2018 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 18! Follow our social media channels to learn more.

Aurora Summit 2018 Presenters:
• Mary Stewart Adams, Presenter and Keynote Speaker, Host of The Storyteller’s Night Sky on Interlochen Public Radio and Founder of Headlands International Dark Sky Park
• Dave Falkner, NASA Solar System Ambassador and author of the book “The Mythology of the Night Sky – An Amateur Astronomer’s Guide to the Ancient Greek and Roman Legends”
• Michael Jordan, Michael Jordan. Photographer and traveler who grew up on the savannahs of Africa, venturing through nature, sailing oceans, hiking remote locations, underwater diving and paddling turbulent waters
• Bob Kelley, Retired Planetarium Director who led a 40-year career at the Scobee Education Center Planetarium, serving as both as planetarium director and “Mission Flight Director” in the new Challenger Learning Center. He has always had a passion for celestial photography, taking several trips to Alaska to image the Northern Lights or to the deserts of west Texas to enjoy the darkest skies on Earth and views of the Milky Way.
• Bob King, Photojournalist, creator of Astro Bob, and author of two books including “Wonders of the Night Sky You Must See Before You Die”
• Terry Mann, Photographer and traveler who leads workshops in Wyoming, and whose experiences include Alaska Aurora chases, the Venus Transit in Egypt, storm chasing, climbing to a summit in the Andes Mountains, and witnessing three Solar Eclipses
• Margaret Mooney, Director of Education and Public Outreach at NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), who works with citizen science
• Jim Rock, Program Director of the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium with interest in Ethno-astronomy and Archeoastronomy
• Jerry Thoreson, Independent Social Media Marketer and admin of Destination Duluth

2018 Featured Panelists

The panel discussion included:
• Bob King, Author and Photojournalist at Astro Bob’s Astronomy for Everyone
• Terry Mann, of ElusiveLightImages.com
• Bob Kelley, Retired Planetarium Director for the Scobee Education Center
• Jess Kowalke, Admin for Upper Midwest Aurora Chasers

2018 Conference Schedule

Aurora Summit 18, the second annual conference, will feature a keynote speaker, educational sessions, a panel discussion, a banquet with an Aurora Slideshow, and many opportunities for night sky photography. We also have some special features planned!

In 2018, we’re proud to present Keynote Speaker Mary Stewart Adams, host of “The Storyteller’s Night Sky” on Interlochen Public Radio and founder of the Headlands International Dark Sky Park.

Check out our Events page to learn about the presenters!

2018 Schedule

The final conference schedule for Aurora Summit 18 is posted below. Activities may be subject to change.

AURORA SUMMIT 18
Friday, Nov. 2 — Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018
All activities take place at Superior Shores Resort & Conference Center, located on Lake Superior’s shore, in Two Harbors, Minnesota. 

FRIDAY, NOV. 2
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Registration at Host Hotel
5:00pm: Conference opens with Meet and Greet
5:00pm: Cash Bar
7:00 – 9:00pm: Dinner Buffet (Included in Registration)
8:00-9:00pm: Aurora Matters! Panel Discussion
9:00pm: After Hours Activities
• Night photography on your own

SATURDAY, NOV. 3
9:00 – 9:55am: Session I
• Basics for Night Sky Photography
• From Apps to Kp: Aurora Forecasting for Beginners
• 10 Keys to Gain a Social Media Following
10:15 – 11:10am: Session II
• Essential Software and Apps for Aurora Chasers and Photographers
• Aurora Culture and Mythology
• The Juno Mission and Jupiter’s Aurora
11:30 – Noon: Aurora Chasers Atlas — Meet new travel companions!
Noon – 1:30pm: Boxed Lunch (Included in Registration)
1:30 – 2:25pm: Session III
• Aurora Borealis: A Photographer’s Guide
• Meet STEVE: The Aurora Getting All the Attention
• Aurora from Satellites Above and Photographers Below
2:45 – 3:40pm: Session IV
• Deep-Sky with Your D-SLR: Getting the Right Camera Gear
• Establishing an International Dark Sky Park
• No Aurora Yet? Camera Techniques to Capture Elusive Light
3:45pm: Group Photo in the Lobby
5:00: Cash Bar Opens
6:00-9:00pm: Aurora Summit Banquet (Included in Registration)
• Featuring Keynote Speaker Mary Stewart Adams
• Aurora Slideshow
9:00pm: After Hours Activities on Superior Shores Beach
• Night Photography
• Aurora Chasing
• Light Painting
• Beach Bonfire

SUNDAY, NOV. 4
Sunday Special Features
9:00-10:00am: Travelogue Presentation, with tour group from Alaska Adventures
10:00-10:30am: Break for check out; Book signings
10:30-11:30am: Between Fire and Ice: Desert Nights and Arctic Lights
• Including an outlook on Celestial Sights for 2019
11:30am: Grand Finale: Aurora Awards, Raffle Prizes, Photo Review
12:30pm: Farewell; Lunch on your own

Opportunities After Hours

At the Aurora Summit, there’s time to enjoy other activities on your own, before and after each conference day. Located on the hotel property, Superior Shores Beach in Flood Bay offers a pebble beach perfect for viewing and photographing the Northern Lights.

Opportunities after hours include:
• Sunrise Photography on Lake Superior’s North Shore
• Rock Beach Bonfire at Superior Shores
• Night Photography, Aurora Chasing & Light Painting

Get event updates on Facebook or Twitter! We also encourage you to post with the hashtag: #AuroraSummit18

Recap: Aurora Summit 17

The Aurora Summit brings in expert photographers, scientists, authors, folklorists and artists who volunteer their time to present on topics related to the Northern Lights. Session topics vary from year to year, but they usually include a combination of scientific subjects, photography techniques, adventure guides and storytelling.

Presentations in 2017 included:
• How to Set Your Camera for Aurora Photography
• What to See & Photograph in the Night Sky
• Phenomenal Light Painting
• How to Post Process Aurora Photographs
• Aurora Folklore & Mythology
• Shooting the Milky Way
• Planning Trophy Nightscapes
• Intro to Forecasting Aurora
• Bizarre Nights: Fireballs, Proton Arcs, Iridium Flares and More

2017 Featured Keynote Speaker

At the inaugural conference, we were proud to present our keynote speaker, Bob King, creator of Astro Bob’s Astronomy for Everyone and the author of Night Sky with the Naked Eye and Wonders of the Night Sky You Must See Before You Die. Bob presented “How to Keep Your Eyes (and Ears) on the Aurora” during the Saturday evening banquet at Aurora Summit 17.

Creator of Astro Bob’s Astronomy for Everyone, Bob King has enjoyed the night sky and astronomy since childhood but chose photojournalism as his vocation and made the stars his lifetime hobby. He grew up in Illinois and received a teaching degree in German from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. Because photography was another early passion, he worked as a photographer at a newspaper in Champaign before moving to Duluth to work at the News Tribune, where he’s been the photo editor since 1990.

He writes a regular astronomy blog called Astro Bob and teaches community education astronomy classes at the UMD planetarium. Bob also writes for the online astronomy websites Sky & Telescope and Universe Today. He lives in Duluth with his wife Linda and has two children, Katie and Maria.

His book “Night Sky with the Naked Eye,” published in November 2016, is an activity-based book aimed at both beginning and amateur astronomers. In it he guides readers to all the wonderful things visible in the night sky without special equipment. It covers satellites, the aurora, the brighter constellations, nighttime clouds and halo phenomena, planets, the moon, meteor showers and much more. He’s working on a second book about the sky to be published in spring 2018.

2017 Featured Presenters

Many outstanding talents came forward to present at Aurora Summit 17. Below are the featured presenters for Aurora Summit 17, the first-ever Aurora Summit!

2017 Featured Panelists

The panel discussion included:
• Richard Hoeg, Admin of Northern Lights | Lake Superior Region, 365 Days of Birds,
• Michael Jordan, World traveler and photographer at Pilgrimage Photography
• Bonnie Tiedt, Photographer and world traveler
• Bob Conzemius, Meteorologist and storm chaser
• Melissa F. Kaelin, Writer and Admin of Aurora and Night Sky Adventures

Previous FAQs:

Q. How much does the conference cost?

A. Regular Admission has been set to $175 for Aurora Summit 19. The cost covers all meals and all conference activities, including more than 18 educational presentations to choose from, a banquet featuring the keynote speaker and Aurora Slideshow, a panel discussion, hands-on night demonstrations, a travelogue, swag and special programming.

You may also choose from two dinner options:
• $69 for Banquet Only which covers all Saturday evening activities, or
• $89 for Friday Dinner + Banquet Only which covers all evening activities throughout the conference.

Q. I’ve seen several locations listed. Where will Aurora Summit 19 be held?

A. Aurora Summit 19 will be held in Washburn, Wisconsin.

This is a change from years past. The organizers considered the options carefully and looked into hosting the event in Duluth or the surrounding region. Due to high costs and  light pollution that would make Aurora viewing difficult, we decided to choose a scenic location in a new state. We hope the short drive from Duluth will encourage many longstanding guests to join us!

Q. Why did you change the date and location for 2019?

A. There were many factors in this decision. The previous venue changed their business model, which led to an increase in room rates and an increase in facility rental costs — these costs nearly tripled. Guests were already paying a lot for the catered meals, so we decided it was time for a change. The new venue for 2019 will give us many of the same amenities in a scenic location about 40 miles south of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. We’re confident this venue will provide wonderful natural views and amazing service!

NOTE: This page is reserved for Archives. Information here does not apply to the current event. 

Location Two Harbors, Minnesota E-mail AuroraSummitMN@gmail.com Hours Annual Event
search previous next tag category expand menu location phone mail time cart zoom edit close