Why do meteors, also known as shooting stars glow different colors, and what do the different colors mean, and what they actually are?
What is a Meteor?
Meteors, those streaks of light in the night sky often called “shooting stars”. They happen when meteoroids (tiny bits of rock or debris) enter Earth’s atmosphere and heat up due to friction, creating that bright tail. Meteors can be either from the particles or remnants of asteroids and the tails of comets, but usually asteroids as they are more common.
Meteor showers happen when the Earth passes through debris fields. This happens several times a year. One of the best and well-known meteor showers is the Germinid Meteor Shower, which occurs around the middle of December.
Why are meteors different colors?
Meteor colors arise because of their different chemical compositions and the speed at which they travel. When a meteor enters Earth’s atmosphere, it begins to burn up due to friction, and the colors come from both the meteor itself and the air.
Generally, the faster the meteor is traveling, the more vibrant and powerful the color it produces. The speed is also believed to determine the color of the meteor. Slower meteors produce a red or orange color. Faster meteors produce a more bluish hue.
Meteor Composition & Color
The composition of a meteor also influences its color.
Nitrogen/Oxygen makes a red color. Sodium results in a more orange hue. Iron creates a yellow glow. Magnesium gives off a greenish bluish color like teal or cyan. Nickel makes a green glowing meteor. Calcium produces a violet/purple color.
The most common shooting star colors that you will see are yellow and orange.
So, the next time you see a meteor streaking across the sky, you might know a bit more about what you are looking at.
