Everyone loves a good snowflake. But how do they form in the sky?
_Snowflakes start as water vapor._
When the temperature outside is cold enough to form ice crystals, water vapor in the air turns into tiny drops of liquid water. These water droplets freeze on contact with anything they hit, such as a piece of dust or dirt.
As the water droplet continues to freeze, it will start to grow into a snowflake.
Each snowflake is made up of six identical branches that reach out in different directions. This is because water molecules always line up in a hexagon shape when they freeze.
As the snowflake grows, more water vapor will continue to freeze onto it, causing it to grow larger and more complex.
The type of snowflake that forms depends on the temperature and humidity of the air where the snowflake is growing.
There are more than 1,000 different types of snowflakes, but there are a few main shapes that you're likely to see:
* Star snowflakes are the most common type of snowflake. They have six arms that all look exactly the same.
* Dendritic snowflakes are a little less common. They have six arms that branch out into smaller and smaller branches.
* Sectored snowflakes are rare. They have three arms that are wider and flatter than the other three arms.
* Irregular snowflakes are also rare. They don't have any symmetry, and they can look like almost anything.
The best way to see snowflakes is to go outside on a cold, snowy day. You may also be able to see snowflakes if you look closely at a window that's covered in ice or frost.
If you're lucky, you may even see a snowflake that's completely symmetrical. These are the most beautiful snowflakes of all!
