Atmospheric refraction is a thing. From where I live I have a 45 mile view to a city. And a telescope.
The view varies a lot, and not just because of haze.
When the seeing is clear and the light is good it's just about possible to make out tall buildings. Some days they're clearly visible above the horizon. Other days they seem partially obscured. Every once in a while they seem to float above the horizon rather than on it.
Clearly there's some refraction happening. And if there was anything behind the city - there isn't, for about a hundred miles or so - I might be able to see that too.
There have been a few times where I've wondered if I can, but at that distance it's impossible to be sure.
Sometimes you can even see Milwaukee standing flat at the shores of Muskegon, an ~80 mile distance much like seeing the Isle of Man in the article but without using the height advantages at each side. https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2012/05/the_lights_of_mi...
The view varies a lot, and not just because of haze.
When the seeing is clear and the light is good it's just about possible to make out tall buildings. Some days they're clearly visible above the horizon. Other days they seem partially obscured. Every once in a while they seem to float above the horizon rather than on it.
Clearly there's some refraction happening. And if there was anything behind the city - there isn't, for about a hundred miles or so - I might be able to see that too.
There have been a few times where I've wondered if I can, but at that distance it's impossible to be sure.