Sky-watchers around the globe are gearing up for a rare celestial spectacle: the first solar eclipse of 2026, set to take place on Tuesday, February 17. But if you’re hoping to catch the full drama of this event, you’ll need to be in one of the most remote and inhospitable places on Earth—Antarctica. For most of the world, this annular solar eclipse, often called a "ring of fire" eclipse, will be a distant show, visible only as a partial eclipse in a handful of southern locations. Still, the event has captured the imagination of astronomers and enthusiasts alike, and for good reason.
According to Mashable, the first sightings of the eclipse will begin at 6:42 a.m. Eastern Time on February 17, 2026. However, the spectacle’s most dramatic phase will occur over Concordia Station in Antarctica, starting at 6:48 p.m. local time (6:42 a.m. ET) and reaching its peak at 7:47 p.m. local time (7:12 a.m. ET). The entire event will last about two hours, with the moon’s shadow carving a path 383 miles (616 kilometers) wide and 2,661 miles (4,282 kilometers) long across the icy continent, as reported by EarthSky.
But what exactly is an annular solar eclipse? Dr. C. Alex Young, associate director for science communication in the Heliophysics Science Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, explained to CNN that an annular solar eclipse occurs “when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, but the moon is too far away in its orbit to completely cover the sun’s disk.” This results in a glowing ring of sunlight surrounding the moon’s dark silhouette—a phenomenon that has earned the nickname "ring of fire." In contrast, a total solar eclipse happens when the moon is close enough to Earth to fully obscure the sun, plunging the landscape into eerie midday darkness.
For those not lucky enough to be in Antarctica, there’s still a chance to catch a partial glimpse. According to Time and Date, regions in the Southern Hemisphere, including parts of South America and Africa, will witness a partial eclipse. In Argentina and Chile, the partial eclipse will start around 7 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET), while in southern Africa, sky-gazers can expect to see the event in the early to mid-afternoon. The rest of the world, unfortunately, will have to settle for livestreams and photographs shared by those in the right place at the right time.
“It’s all a matter of geometry,” Dr. Young told CNN. “You have to be in exactly the right spot along the narrow path of annularity to see it, which makes witnessing an eclipse like this so rare.” In fact, only about 2% of the world’s population will be able to see this eclipse in any form, making it a truly exclusive event.
So, how can you safely observe this rare occurrence? Both Mashable and CNN stress the importance of never looking directly at the sun during an eclipse, no matter how much of it is obscured. NASA recommends using certified solar viewing glasses, which are specifically designed to protect your eyes from the sun’s intense rays. Regular sunglasses, even the darkest ones, are not sufficient. If you don’t have access to eclipse glasses, you can make a simple pinhole projector: punch a small hole in a piece of cardboard, stand with your back to the sun, and let the sunlight pass through the hole onto a flat surface behind you. This will project a safe image of the eclipse for you to watch. “You’ll be able to see the ring shape projected right there,” Dr. Young explained.
Annular eclipses like this one occur every one to two years, but many happen over remote or unpopulated regions of the planet. The next annular eclipse will take place on February 6, 2027, and is expected to be visible from larger swaths of South America and Africa, according to NASA. For those in the United States, the next chance to see an annular eclipse won’t come until 2039.
There’s more to the story than just this single event. Eclipses tend to come in pairs or even trios, a phenomenon astronomers call "eclipse seasons." As Dr. Young noted, “a solar eclipse is always accompanied by a lunar eclipse about two weeks before or after.” In this case, the February 17 annular solar eclipse will be followed by a total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026. During a total lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, often turning a deep red—a "blood moon." This upcoming lunar eclipse will be visible from Asia, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas. For North Americans, it’s an especially notable event, as it will be the last total lunar eclipse visible from the continent until 2028.
The celestial calendar for 2026 is packed with other highlights as well. On February 28, sky-watchers can look forward to a rare parade of six planets—Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune—visible in the night sky. According to NASA, the first four planets should be visible to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune may require binoculars or a telescope. And that’s not all: the year will also feature a series of meteor showers, including the Lyrids in April, the Perseids in August, and the Geminids in December, among others, as listed by the American Meteor Society.
For those who do manage to witness the annular eclipse firsthand, the experience promises to be unforgettable. As Dr. Young described, “you’ll first notice the moon slowly moving across the sun, creating a partial eclipse. As the coverage increases to about 80%, shadows on the ground begin to sharpen and lose their fuzzy edges, the light around you dims, and shadows start to look curved. It sort of looks like something’s taking a bite out of the sun.” At the moment of annularity, the moon sits directly in front of the sun, leaving a brilliant ring of fire around the edges. If you look at the ground through eclipse glasses, you may even spot unusual, circular patterns in the shadows.
While the 2026 annular eclipse may be out of reach for most, its rarity and beauty are a reminder of the wonders our universe has to offer. Whether you’re watching from Antarctica, catching a partial glimpse from afar, or tuning in online, this "ring of fire" is sure to inspire awe—and maybe a little bit of cosmic curiosity for what’s still to come.