Eli5 Why light waves require line of sight while sound waves do not?
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Sound waves must be carried on a medium such as air or solid matter.
Light waves do not require a medium. Light can travel through the vacuum of space.
Light is also affected by gravity. Massive objects bend space. In other words, gravity defines the meaning of “line of sight.”
During a solar eclipse, astronomers can see stars, that from Earth’s perspective, are behind the Sun.
Astronomers can see galaxies behind closer groups of galaxies. The further galaxies appear distorted as [Einstein Arcs and Rings.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_ring) (See the gallery in the article.)
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