A ‘ring of fire’ eclipse will be visible over part of the world. Here’s what to know

A “ring of fire” solar eclipse on Tuesday will mark the first eclipse of 2026, but only about 2% of the world’s population will be able to see it, according to Time and Date.

The event, also called an annular solar eclipse, occurs “when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, but the Moon is too far in its orbit to completely cover the solar disk,” said Dr. C. Alex Young, associate director for science communication in the Heliophysical Sciences Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in an email.

The result is a bright ring of sunlight surrounding the dark silhouette of the moon, he explained, giving it the name “ring of fire.” If the Moon completely covers the Sun, it becomes a total eclipse. A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, but the Sun, Moon and Earth are not perfectly aligned, according to NASA.

The best view of the Ring of Fire will be from part of Antarctica, with a partial eclipse visible from the rest of the icy continent, as well as parts of Africa and South America.

Annular solar eclipses occur every one to two years, but many are not visible from most parts of the world. There will be another annular eclipse on February 6, 2027, according to NASA, and it will be visible over larger swaths of South America and Africa. As for those in the United States, the next opportunity to see an annular eclipse will be in 2039, according to Young.

Eclipses occur in pairs and sometimes in trios. Astronomers call these groups of events eclipse seasons, Young noted, adding that “a solar eclipse is always accompanied by a lunar eclipse about two weeks before or after.” This annular eclipse marks the first eclipse of the season, followed by a total lunar eclipse on March 3.

The next annular solar eclipse will be the first since 2024. During the event, the moon’s shadow will trace a path 383 miles (616 kilometers) wide and 2,661 miles (4,282 kilometers) long across Earth, according to EarthSky.

Since the thin ring of fire only passes over Antarctica, many people will have to rely on live-streamed footage to view it. “It’s all about geometry,” Young said. “You have to be in exactly the right place along the narrow path of annularity to see it, which is what makes observing an eclipse like this so rare.”

The annular eclipse will be most spectacular at Concordia Station, Antarctica, beginning at 6:48 p.m. local time (6:42 a.m. ET) and peaking at 7:47 p.m. local time (7:12 a.m. ET), depending on the time and date. The event will last approximately two hours.

A partial eclipse will be visible in South Africa, South America and Antarctica, depending on the time and date.

Argentina and Chile will be able to see the partial eclipse starting at 7 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET). Across southern Africa, skywatchers can expect to see the partial eclipse early this afternoon.

To check when the eclipse will be visible from different locations along its path, check the Time and Date website.

What to look for and how to watch safely

If you witness the annular solar eclipse, you will first notice that the moon slowly moves in front of the sun, creating a partial eclipse. As coverage increases to about 80%, shadows on the ground begin to sharpen and lose their fuzzy edges, the light around you dims, and shadows begin to appear curved, Young explained. “It looks like something is biting the sun,” he said.

At the peak, known as annularity, the Moon lies directly in front of the Sun from Earth’s perspective, leaving a striking “ring of fire” around the edges. If you look at the ground through eclipse glasses, you’ll see unusual circular patterns in the shadows, he added.

It’s important to remember that it’s not safe to look directly at the sun during an annular or partial eclipse without proper eye protection, according to NASA.

“You need certified eclipse glasses,” Young said. “Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are far from enough.”

Partial and annular solar eclipses differ from total solar eclipses because at no time does the moon completely cover the bright side of the sun. Therefore, it is never safe to look directly at a partial or annular eclipse without proper eye protection.

If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can use a portable solar viewer or make a simple pinhole projector. To create the spotlight, make a small hole in a piece of cardboard. Then, with your back to the sun, hold the cardboard so that sunlight passes through the hole and projects an image of the sun on a flat surface behind it, Young explained. “You will be able to see the ring shape projected here.”

Upcoming celestial events

This year’s celestial calendar is full. On February 28, skywatchers can expect a parade of six planets in the night sky.

Visible shortly after sunset, Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter are visible to the naked eye depending on the weather. However, according to NASA, to see Uranus and Neptune, you may need to use binoculars or a telescope.

Three days later, on March 3, a total lunar eclipse will be visible in Asia, Australia, the Pacific Islands and the Americas. The moon will appear red, which is why it is called a blood moon. This total lunar eclipse is “the last one visible from North America until 2028, so it’s one that people should really have on their calendars right now,” Young added.

Skywatchers can also expect a number of meteor showers throughout 2026. Here are the peak dates for upcoming meteor activity, according to the American Meteor Society.

Lyrids: April 21-22

Eta Aquariids: May 5-6

Southern Delta Aquariids: July 30 and 31

Alpha Capricornides: July 30-31

Perseids: August 12-13

Orionids: October 21-22

Southern Taurides: November 4 and 5

Northern Taurides: November 11-12

Leonids: November 16-17

Geminids: December 13-14

Ursids: December 21-22

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