Today is a significant day for astronomers as we are exactly five days away from the first major celestial event of the year. The **Annular Solar Eclipse**—the "Ring of Fire"—is set to occur on **Tuesday, February 17, 2026**.
While the event is generating massive excitement globally, the "prime viewing locations" for the full effect are some of the most remote places on Earth.
### 📍 Where to See the "Ring of Fire"
The path of annularity (where the moon perfectly centers itself within the sun) is quite narrow and located almost exclusively in **Antarctica**.
* **Prime Inhabited Locations:** The French-Italian **Concordia Station** and the Russian **Mirny Station** are the only permanent research bases directly in the path.
* **Duration:** At peak, the "Ring of Fire" will last for approximately **2 minutes and 20 seconds**.
* **Visibility:** Because the path skims the Davis Sea and crosses the frozen continent, most viewers will likely be scientists or hardy tourists on late-season Antarctic cruises.
### 🌍 Partial Viewing Locations
If you aren't planning a trip to the South Pole, many other regions will see a **partial solar eclipse**, where the moon appears to take a "bite" out of the sun:
* **Southern Africa:** Residents in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg will see between 5% and 16% coverage.
* **South America:** The southern tips of Argentina (Ushuaia) and Chile will catch a glimpse of the partial phase during sunrise.
* **Other Regions:** Parts of Madagascar, Mauritius, and Australia (Heard and McDonald Islands) will also see varying degrees of partiality.
### ⌚ Key Timings (February 17, 2026)
| Stage | UTC Time |
| --- | --- |
| **Partial Eclipse Begins** | 09:56 |
| **Full Eclipse (Annularity) Starts** | 11:42 |
| **Maximum Eclipse (Peak)** | **12:12** |
| **Annularity Ends** | 12:41 |
| **Partial Eclipse Ends** | 14:27 |
### ⚠️ A Friendly Reminder on Safety
Even though the moon covers most of the sun, the remaining "ring" is incredibly bright. **Standard sunglasses are not enough.** To avoid permanent eye damage, you must use ISO-certified **solar eclipse glasses**.
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**Looking Ahead:** If you miss this one, the next major event is a **Total Solar Eclipse** on **August 12, 2026**, which will be much more accessible, crossing through Greenland, Iceland, and Spain.
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