What do the sparkles mean on the compass?

[archaegeo 192]

Sometimes i see red or green sparkles on the compass, I assume its not santa, any idea what they mean?

[Luunk 0]

The green stuff is your bearing that you can set by pressing middle mouse button when looking at the compass. 

The red stuff.. don't know  

[DarthNox 0]

its a direction to next Power Stone

[Coggage 239]

Oh, I thought green was land ahead of you and red was land behind you. They seemed that way yesterday, but I didn't give it more than a brief glance.