Annular 'ring of fire' solar eclipse February 2026: Live updates
The next solar eclipse will be on Feb. 17, 2026. Here's what you need to know.
What time is the annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse will turn the sun into a dramatic "ring of fire" on Feb. 17, as the moon passes between Earth and the sun, leaving a thin outer ring of sunlight visible. This striking "ring of fire" effect will last up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds on the path of annularity.
Read more: What time is the annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17?
Annular solar eclipse T-2 days
On Feb. 17, an annular solar eclipse will transform the sun into a breathtaking "ring of fire." To mark this precise celestial alignment — and the orbital choreography behind it — here are three fascinating facts about solar eclipses you might not know.
1 - Not all "ring of fire" eclipse look the same
The thickness of the glowing ring depends on how far the moon is from Earth. During this annular solar eclipse, the moon will be near its farthest point, making the ring appear especially bright and narrow.
2 - Eclipses only happen during short seasonal windows
Even though we get a new moon every month, eclipses are only possible during eclipse seasons, which occur roughly twice a year when the moon's orbit lines up with the sun and Earth.
3 - Solar eclipses are slowly changing over time
The moon is drifting away from Earth at about 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) per year. Far in the future, total solar eclipses will disappear, leaving only annular and partial solar eclipses behind.
Want to know more about the annular solar eclipse?
On Feb. 17, 2026, a dramatic annular solar eclipse will trace a narrow path across Antarctica, briefly turning the sun into a burning "ring of fire" as the moon passes almost completely in front of it. While only a handful of humans will see the full effect, much of Antarctica, along with parts of southern Africa and South America, will experience a partial solar eclipse, as the lunar disk occults a smaller section of the solar orb.
Read more: Annular solar eclipse 2026: Everything you need to know about the 'ring of fire'
Why do solar and lunar eclipses come in pairs?
Eclipses often feel like sudden, one-off spectacles, appearing out of nowhere after months of familiar moon phases. In reality, they arrive in predictable pairs during brief periods called eclipse seasons. The next one runs from Feb. 17 to March 3, 2026, bringing both a solar and a lunar eclipse. Here we explore why.
Read more: Why solar and lunar eclipses come in pairs — and what an eclipse season really is
What happens during the annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun's disk during the new moon phase while at a distant point from Earth in its elliptical orbit. Around this time, the lunar disk appears slightly smaller than the sun in Earth's sky. As a result, a sliver of the sun can be seen surrounding the moon during annularity — the equivalent to totality during a total solar eclipse.
Read more: Here's what will happen during each phase of the Feb. 17 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse
Where will the annular solar eclipse be visible from?
The first solar eclipse of 2026 will be a dramatic annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17. The downside for most of us is that the stunning 'ring of fire' will be witnessed by more penguins than people.
Stretching 2,661 miles (4,282 kilometers) long and 383 miles (616 km) wide, the path of annularity — where the 'ring of fire' will be visible — cuts across western Antarctica and skims the Davis Sea coast of the Southern Ocean.
Read more: Where will the annular solar eclipse be visible on Feb. 17?
One week to go! We're ready, are you?
We're just one week away from the first solar eclipse of 2026! Here's what you need to know before a dramatic "ring of fire" annular eclipse darkens the sky over Antarctica on Feb. 17, likely confusing millions of penguins.
Read more: 1 week until an annular solar eclipse turns the sun into a 'ring of fire' over Antarctica
Countdown begins: Feb. 17’s annular solar eclipse is just over a week away
We're just over a week away from the first solar eclipse of 2026! An annular solar eclipse will take place on Feb. 17, 2026. During this dramatic event, the moon will slide in front of the sun but won't cover it completely, leaving a glowing 'ring of fire' around the edges. That dramatic view will only be visible from a remote part of Antarctica, where up to 96% of the sun will be eclipsed for a little over 2 minutes — meaning very few people on Earth will witness annularity in person.
More people will see a partial solar eclipse, with the moon covering a smaller portion of the sun across Antarctica, parts of southern Africa and the southern tip of South America.
To find out more, check out our annular solar eclipse 2026 guide.
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