Can We Really See Atoms with Advanced Microscopes?

[The legend]

Cant we see atoms??

In a book I read that theoretically it is not possible to see atoms even if high quality microscopes are used. So why is that?

 

[russ_watters]

It is impossible to see them visually because they are smaller than the wavelengths of visible light. You can indirectly see them with various special microscopes that use operating principles other than visible light

 

[The legend]

Thanks!
So we can use x ray microscopes etc right?

 

[Borek]

More like scanning tunneling microscope.