Capturing Falling Snow, One Flake at a Time (Gallery)

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) contributed these images to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

Snowflakes may start as beautiful star-like crystals, but byt he time they hit the ground, they are far from beautiful (and often cause quite a mess). A new 3D camera is revealing why; learn more about the breakthrough in "Snowflakes Aren't Even Like Themselves, New 3D Images Reveal," the video below, and the following gallery.

Snowflakes are not so perfect

3D Christmas Flake2

Using a two-camera system, the researchers can capture images in stereo. Even without special tools, if you look at the center of the image and unfocus your eyes, the two images merge into one, creating the illusion of a three dimensional ice crystal. (It can take practice, but it works!) (Credit: Cale Fallgatter.)

Pieces and parts

How snowflakes usually look: as aggregates. (Credit: Tim Garrett and Cale Fallgatter.)

Stereo vision

More snowflakes in stereo. (Credit: Cale Fallgatter.)

Almost frozen

Classifying precipitation near the freezing point of water is especially challenging. The new camera system developed with NSF funding provides information on particle composition, speed, size and angle. To see this image in 3-D, stare at the center of the picture and unfocus your eyes. (Credit: Cale Fallgatter.)

Falling free

A snowflake in freefall. (Credit: Cale Fallgatter.)

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