Why do aurora forecasters watch the Sun first?

Answer: Solar particles power auroras

Polar cold creates auroras — Wrong. Cold weather can help people observe auroras because polar regions are often dark and clear in winter, but cold air does not create auroras. Even if the ground is freezing, no aurora appears unless solar particles and Earth's magnetic field interact in the right way.

The Moon lights auroras up — Wrong. Moonlight affects visibility, not the cause of auroras. In fact, a bright Moon often makes faint auroras harder to see by brightening the sky background. The Moon does not power auroras or make them happen.

Solar particles power auroras ✓ — Correct! Auroras begin with the Sun. The Sun constantly releases charged particles, and when enough of them reach Earth and interact with Earth's magnetic field and upper atmosphere, the sky can glow. That's why aurora forecasting starts by asking what the Sun is doing—not just what the local night sky looks like.