Is it possible to see through small objects? @MathiasKp

Uploaded February 2016 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

Depending on aperture and focus it is actual possible to see around the edge of an object and if the object is small enough you can see right through it.

A detailed description of this phenomena can be seen here:
physics.stackexchange.com/questions/111006/how-does-light-bend-around-my-finger-tip/111238

Is it possible to see through small objects?

$Ferry from Bornholmslinjen behind horizon, March 19th 2019 The first time I filmed this ferry I didn’t have a tripod with me but this time I did. The visibility wasn’t as clear but still good so we can see details on the ferry like the two funnels/chimneys . I also made this video at 30x speed where I centered the footage https://youtu.be/T3jus582qGc Date of footage: 19th March 2019 The ferry is sailing between Rønne and Ystad, https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:14.4/centery:55.2/zoom:9 Ferry: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:155510/mmsi:219017081/vessel:EXPRESS%201 I made a collage with all the needed data to calculate amount obstructed here https://flic.kr/p/2dVCxfR Ferry height estimated based on photographs: 24m Observer height: 4.05m Distance: 21.6km Amount hidden geometrical on globe Earth: 16.3m Amount hidden including std. refraction on globe Earth: 12.9m Amount hidden observed: ~13.3m$

Using auto level to measure Earth surface drop on Turning Torso

Black ball with visible flat horizon and obstruction v3

Timelapse 2h, Charlottenlund to Turning Torso

$Why height matters, Turning Torso On a globe Earth with atmosphere we would expect obstruction and an amount of drop a little lower than the geometrical calculated value. In this video I show that the closer the sightline is to the water or ground the less the observations matches a globe Earth. The observation of obstruction with the sightline just over water was distorted. The auto level observation from 3.7m showed more drop than expected and from 65.5m we got an intersection just a little less than expected. That’s why height matters, much less variable refraction. #TurningTorsoFlatEarth$

How to visual with GeoGebra measure lean and obstruction on a sphere

Mathias Kp |

Is it possible to see through small objects?