* Red Stars: These are the coolest stars, with surface temperatures between 3,500 and 5,500 Kelvin (about 5,700 to 9,900 degrees Fahrenheit). They emit most of their light in the red and infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
* Blue Stars: These are the hottest stars, with surface temperatures above 10,000 Kelvin (about 17,500 degrees Fahrenheit). They emit most of their light in the blue and ultraviolet portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
* White Stars: These fall in between the red and blue stars, with surface temperatures between 5,500 and 10,000 Kelvin (about 9,900 to 17,500 degrees Fahrenheit). They emit a balanced amount of light across the visible spectrum, giving them a white appearance. However, our Sun is considered a yellow dwarf star, and appears yellowish to us due to the filtering effects of Earth's atmosphere.
Here's a helpful analogy: Think of a piece of metal being heated. As it heats up, it glows red, then orange, then yellow, and eventually white-hot. This is similar to how star colors change with temperature.
Important Note: While color is a good indicator of a star's temperature, it's not the only factor. Other properties like size, mass, and composition can also influence a star's appearance.