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Which solar events most often boost auroras?

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Answer: CMEs and fast solar wind

CMEs and fast solar windCorrect! The two most important aurora drivers are coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and high-speed solar wind from coronal holes. CMEs can hurl huge clouds of plasma into space, while coronal holes can send out fast streams of solar wind. If either reaches Earth under the right conditions, they can strongly disturb Earth's magnetic field and boost auroral activity.

Sunspots aloneWrong. Sunspots are a sign that the Sun's magnetic activity is strong, so they can be associated with eruptions—but a sunspot by itself is not what hits Earth. What matters more for auroras is whether the Sun actually launches fast solar wind or a CME toward us.

Solar eclipsesWrong. A solar eclipse only changes how the Sun looks from Earth for a short time. It does not send extra charged particles into Earth's magnetic environment, so it is not an aurora trigger.

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