A “ring of fire” solar eclipse on Tuesday will mark the first eclipse since 2026, but only about 2 percent 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 Science Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in an email.
This results in a bright ring of sunlight surrounding the moon’s dark silhouette, 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 a sliver of Antarctica, with a partial eclipse visible from the rest of the frozen continent, as well as parts of Africa and South America.
Annular solar eclipses occur once every one or two years, however many are not visible from most parts of the world. Another annular eclipse will occur on February 6, 2027, according to NASA, and will be visible for larger areas 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.
The second eclipse of 2024, a total solar eclipse, was seen over Dallas, Texas. – Keegan Barber/NASA
Eclipses come in pairs and occasionally 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, following a total lunar eclipse on March 3.
The upcoming annular solar eclipse will be the first since 2024. During the event, the Moon’s shadow will cut a path 383 miles (616 kilometers) wide and 2,661 miles (4,282 kilometers) long across Earth, according to EarthSky.
Because the thin ring of fire only passes over Antarctica, many people will have to rely on live recordings to see it. “It’s all a matter of geometry,” Young said. “You have to be in exactly the right place along the narrow path of the ring to see it, which is what makes witnessing an eclipse like this so rare.”
The annular eclipse will be most dramatic at Concordia Station, Antarctica, beginning at 6:48 pm local time (6:42 am ET) and peaking at 7:47 pm local time (7:12 am ET), according to the time and date. The event will last approximately two hours.
A partial eclipse will be visible in South Africa, South America and Antarctica, according to the time and date.
Argentina and Chile will be able to see the partial eclipse starting around 7:00 a.m. local time (5:00 a.m. ET). In southern Africa, sky watchers can expect to see the partial eclipse in the early to mid-afternoon.
To check when the eclipse will be visible from various locations along its path, check the Time and Date website.
What to look for and how to watch safely
A group watches the total solar eclipse in New York City on April 8, 2024, as the path of totality moves across North America. -Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
If you’re witnessing the annular solar eclipse, you’ll first notice the Moon moving slowly across the Sun, creating a partial eclipse. As coverage increases to about 80 percent, shadows on the ground begin to sharpen and lose their fuzzy edges, the light around you fades, and shadows begin to appear curved, Young explained. “Looks like something’s taking a bite out of the sun,” he said.
At its peak, known as annularity, the moon is directly in front of the sun from Earth’s perspective, leaving a striking “ring of fire” around the edges. If you look at the earth through eclipse glasses, you will 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 for solar viewing, according to NASA.
“You need certified eclipse glasses,” Young said. “Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are nowhere near enough.”
Partial and annular solar eclipses differ from total solar eclipses because there is no time when the moon completely covers the bright face of the sun. As a result, 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 projector, make a small hole in a piece of cardboard. Then, with his back to the sun, he holds the cardboard so that sunlight shines through the hole and projects an image of the sun onto a flat surface behind him, Young explained. “You’ll be able to see the ring shape projected right there.”
Future Heavenly Events
The Geminid meteor shower lit up the sky over Sichuan province, China on December 14, 2025. – Fu Yujianglin/VCG/AP
This year’s celestial calendar is full. On February 28, sky watchers can look forward to a parade of six planets in the night sky.
Visible shortly after sunset, Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter can be seen with the naked eye, depending on the weather. Seeing Uranus and Neptune, however, may require binoculars or a telescope, according to NASA.
Three days later, on March 3, a total lunar eclipse will be visible to those 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 visible from North America until 2028, so it’s one that people should have on their calendars right now,” Young added.
Sky watchers can also look forward to a series of meteor showers throughout 2026. Here are the peak dates for future meteor activity, according to the American Meteor Society.
Lirides: April 21-22
Eta Aquariids: May 5-6
South Delta aquariums: July 30-31
Alpha Capricornides: July 30-31
Perseids: August 12-13
Orionids: October 21-22
Southern Taurides: November 4-5
Northern Taurides: November 11-12
Leonidas: November 16-17
Geminids: December 13-14
Ursidis: December 21-22
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