The 2026 Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse takes place on February 17. In this type of eclipse, the Moon covers the center of the Sun, but leaves a bright circular ring visible.
However, this rare event cannot be seen from India, the United Kingdom or the United States. This is because the path of the eclipse lies far in the southern hemisphere, mainly over Antarctica.
In these areas (India, USA and UK) the Sun is below the horizon during the event. People who want to watch it can still watch the live coverage online.
NASA is streaming the eclipse in high definition on its official YouTube channel and website. TimeandDate also offers an interactive map and live streaming for real-time viewing.
Google has added a special animation to its home page so users can experience the Ring of Fire virtually. These digital options allow a global audience to watch the celestial event securely online.
A solar eclipse will be observed on February 17 in limited parts of the Southern Hemisphere. The full annular phase is visible only in Antarctica, especially in Marambio, between 7:32 and 9:37 AM local ART time.
A few areas will witness a partial eclipse. In South Africa, including Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, the event takes place from 14:43 to 15:12 SAST.
In southern parts of Chile and Argentina, such as Punta Arenas, it will be visible between 7:28 AM and 7:59 AM ART. Madagascar, Mauritius and Réunion will experience the eclipse from 16:35 to 17:35 EAT/MUT.
Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Tanzania will see partial visibility between about 3pm and 5pm local time. Most northern regions, including India, do not see the eclipse due to its southern path.
Another solar eclipse in 2026
The next major solar eclipse will occur on August 12. It will be seen more in western countries. The UK is expected to experience a strong partial eclipse of around 90%. It starts around 18:15 BST and peaks at 19:13.
Parts of the northeastern United States will also witness a partial eclipse. However, it will not be visible from India.
For observers in India, the eclipse occurs when the Sun is already below the horizon. On August 12, the moon’s shadow is concentrated in the northern and western hemispheres. The last total solar eclipse visible from India was in July 2009