Abstract: A method and apparatus for the measurement of short distances by means of an interferometer using incoherent light is described. An incoherent beam of light is transmitted via a beam-splitter (2) both to the reference point (3) and to the object (4) to be measured, and the position of the reference device is adjusted until interference is detected, at which time the distances passed by the beams are equal. The position of the reference device (3) is adjusted periodically by means of an automatic actuating device, which may be, e.g., a mirror attached to a loudspeaker mechanism, and the interference is detected by means of an electronic detector (5), as well as, at the moment of interference, the position of the actuating device is read, e.g., on the basis of the momentary value of the supply signal controlling the actuating device.