Meteors can appear in different colors depending on their chemical composition.

The color of a meteor's glow tells you what it's made of. Magnesium produces blue-green. Iron gives yellow. Sodium creates orange-yellow. Ionized calcium adds violet. The surrounding air also contributes — nitrogen and oxygen can make the trail look red. These colors are often faint to the naked eye but show up clearly in photographs and video. A single meteor can change color as it burns, revealing layers of different minerals.