The first solar eclipse of 2026 will happen on February 17, exciting many skywatchers as well as scientists. This eclipse is called an annular solar eclipse, also known as the ring of fire. The reason behind this name is that during such an eclipse a bright ring of sunlight can be seen around the moon. As during this event, the Moon will move between the Earth and the Sun but will not completely cover the Sun. Hence, a thin, bright ring of light will still be visible in the sky, which would appear as a ring. The eclipse will mostly be visible in remote areas of the Southern Hemisphere. Check out everything from India visibility and timings to more we know about the annular solar eclipse.
A solar eclipse is a phenomenon that happens when the Sun, Moon and Earth line up in a straight line. This alignment is known as syzygy. When the Moon moves directly between the Sun and the Earth, it casts a shadow on Earth and blocks some of the Sun’s light, due to which the area on Earth darkens, resulting in an eclipse.
An annular solar eclipse takes place when the Moon is at its farthest point from Earth in the sky. At this point, the Moon is seen in the sky only slightly smaller than the Sun. The Moon will not be large enough to cover the Sun completely. There will be a ring of light around the Moon, which is also referred to by its popular name, the ring of fire.
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According to NASA, the annular solar eclipse will occur on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The eclipse is expected to begin at 09:56 UTC, with the maximum phase taking place at 12:12 UTC. In some locations, the ring of fire effect may last for up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
The annular phase will be visible mainly from parts of Antarctica. A few research stations, including Concordia and Mirny, fall within the path. Partial visibility is expected in parts of southern Africa, such as South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Southern areas of Argentina and Chile, along with islands like Madagascar and Mauritius, may also witness a partial eclipse.
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The February 17 annular solar eclipse will not be visible from India. The alignment will occur over the Southern Hemisphere at a time when the sun will be below the horizon in India. As a result, people in the country will not be able to observe any phase of the eclipse.
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Experts advise that people should never look directly at the sun during an eclipse without proper protection. Regular sunglasses are not safe for viewing.
Use only ISO certified eclipse glasses or approved solar filters. Indirect viewing methods, such as a pinhole projector, are also considered safe. Looking at the sun without protection, even during an annular eclipse, can cause serious and permanent eye damage.