All eyes are on Tuesday, February 17, as the first eclipse of the year graces the sky. As space enthusiasts await a rare annular solar eclipse, the Moon will cover the center of the Sun, leaving a blazing ‘Ring of Fire’.
Where to watch the solar eclipse on February 17, 2026?
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), space enthusiasts will be able to see the annular solar eclipse from Antarctica. “An annular solar eclipse will be visible in Antarctica, and a partial eclipse will be visible in Antarctica, Africa, South America, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean,” NASA said.
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Sky watchers in parts of Chile, Argentina and Africa will be able to witness a partial eclipse. Eclipse glasses should be used for viewing as looking directly at the sun is dangerous. Glasses that meet ISO 12312-2 standards block ultraviolet radiation from the sun that can damage the eyes.
Will this solar eclipse be visible in India?
The annular solar eclipse will not be visible in India, but cosmophiles can enjoy the event live without going outside by watching NASA’s coverage of the event. Up to 96% of the center of the Sun will be covered by the Moon, creating a ‘ring of fire’ for up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
Eclipse meteorologist Jay Anderson said, “It is possible that only a few people will see this eclipse from the annular zone,” in a statement on his website Eclipsophile.com.
And he added: “It’s a challenge to reach and there are only two inhabited places in the ring shadow, neither of which are set up to welcome tourists.”
Since the eclipse path of the annular solar eclipse will be limited to the remote region of Antarctica, no human will likely be able to see the event, except for a few people working at selected research stations on the southernmost continent.
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Solar eclipse time
According to Indian Standard Time (IST), the eclipse will begin at 3:26 pm on February 17 and end at 7:57 pm, the time and date said.
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth align in the sky. at this point, the Moon casts its shadow, blocking sunlight as seen from Earth. The moon happens to be farther from Earth in its orbit during an annular or annular eclipse. Only a thin sliver remains visible during this celestial phenomenon.
The visibility of this cosmic spectacle depends on the conditions in the sky and the places that fall in the path of the moon’s shadow.
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Upcoming Great Eclipse of 2026
March 3, 2026 – A total lunar eclipse will be visible in Asia, Australia, the Pacific Islands and the Americas.
August 12, 2026 – A total solar eclipse will be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and a small area of Portugal. Sky watchers in Europe, Africa, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean will be able to see a partial eclipse.
27-28 August 2026 – A partial lunar eclipse will be visible in the Americas, Europe, Africa and western Asia.