What time is the annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17?
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A “ring of fire” eclipse will take place in Antarctica on February 17. | Credit: Created in Canva Pro by Daisy Dobrijevic
An annular solar eclipse will turn the sun into a dramatic spectacle “ring of fire” on February 17when the Moon passes between the Earth and the sun, leaving a thin outer ring of sunlight visible. This stunning effect will last for up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds during the greatest eclipse.
The eclipse will progress as follows, according to time and date:
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Partial eclipse begins – 4:56 a.m. EST (0956 GMT)
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Peak “Ring of Fire” Annularity – 7:12 a.m. EST (12:12 p.m. GMT)
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End of partial eclipse – 9:27 a.m. EST (2:27 p.m. GMT)
Only a very small region of Antarctica lies in the path of annularity, a corridor approximately 2,661 miles long and 383 miles wide (4,282 kilometers by 616 kilometers) where the moon will cover approximately 96% of the solar disk. Viewers elsewhere in Antarctica and parts of southern Africa and far southern South America will see a partial solar eclipse rather than a full “ring of fire.”
What is an annular solar eclipse?
A ring finger solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between Earth And the sunbut is too far from Earth to completely cover the solar disk. The smaller moon leaves a bright outer ring of the sun – often called a “ring of fire” – visible during the maximum eclipse.
Remember to NEVER look directly at the sun. To view this solar eclipse safely, you should use solar filters at all times. Whether your location is experiencing a partial solar eclipse or an annular solar eclipse, the dangers are the same. Observers will need to wear solar eclipse glasses, and cameras, telescopes and binoculars will need to have solar filters placed in front of their lenses at all times.
OUR how to observe the sun safely This guide tells you everything you need to know about safe solar observations. Keep up to date with the latest solar eclipse news with our solar eclipse live blog.
Composite image showing the stages of an annular solar eclipse as the moon takes an increasingly larger “bite” from the sun. | Credit: Allexxandar via Getty Images
When can I next see a solar eclipse?
After February 17, the next solar eclipse will be a Total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026. This total eclipse will be visible from parts of Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, with a partial eclipse observed across wider parts of Europe and Africa.
If you can’t wait that long, another major event is coming up in just a few weeks. On March 3, 2026, a total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red for skywatchers in North America, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia and the Pacific.
