The public is asked to name the Northern Lights – here’s hoping it won’t be Lighty McLightface

LETTING the public name something has become a risky game in recent years, thanks to the now infamous attempt to name a new polar research vessel Boaty McBoatface in 2016. 

But perhaps Northern Lights spotters are a more serious bunch. 

That’s what Visit Arctic Europe will be hoping anyway, after asking fans to come up with names for the different storms that create the various light displays. 

 Rauno Posio, programme director of Visit Arctic Europe told the : “There are so many northern lights visible in Arctic Europe from autumn to early spring that we started giving them names the same way other storms are named.

"This they get their own identities and it’s easier to communicate about them.”

Aurora season spans between late August through the end of April, when more than 100 auroras can be viewed. 

These light shows form when electrically charged particles from the sun touch down on the Earth’s atmosphere and as a result, auroral displays appear in stunning shades of yellow, green, blue and red.

A message posted to Visit Arctic Europe, a tourism board made up of partners in Finland, Sweden and Norway reads: “The northern lights come in different colors and shapes.

"Some are very delicate, but still awe-inspiring, and some stronger, so strong in fact, that we decided to start giving them Nordic names.”

But now, anyone interested can now submit ideas  , and along with a reason for why an aurora borealis should be given that name. 

Chosen names will be revealed and on This is Artic’s Instagram page.

A version of this article was originally published on and has been reproduced with permission.