Annular Solar Eclipse — February 17, 2026

On February 17, 2026, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun — but because the Moon is near the far end of its orbit, it will appear slightly smaller than the Sun. Instead of completely covering the solar disc, it leaves a bright ring of sunlight visible around its silhouette. Astronomers call this a "ring of fire" eclipse.

An annular eclipse happens only when the geometry lines up just right: the Moon must be new, it must cross the plane of Earth’s orbit at the right point, and it must be far enough away that its apparent size falls short of the Sun’s. The result is spectacular but demands the same eye protection as any partial solar eclipse — the ring is still blindingly bright.

This particular eclipse favors almost no one: its path of annularity crosses Antarctica, one of the least-visited places on Earth. Only research crews and a handful of expedition travelers are likely to witness the ring directly. For everyone else, the partial phases are not visible from populated continents, making this one of the most remote eclipses of the decade.

If you do travel for it, standard solar viewing safety applies without exception: certified eclipse glasses for every glance at the Sun, and a proper solar filter on any camera, telescope, or binoculars. The ring phase never darkens the sky enough to remove your eye protection.

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