Annular solar eclipse 'Ring of Fire' occurs Feb. 17 with limited visibility

An annular solar eclipse, known as a 'ring of fire,' will occur on Feb. 17 and reach its peak during morning hours ET; the full ring will be visible only along a narrow path across parts of Antarctica while a wider partial eclipse will be seen from some southern hemisphere regions.

An annular solar eclipse, often called a "ring of fire," is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17. The event happens when the moon passes between Earth and the sun while the moon is a bit farther away in its orbit, so a bright ring of the sun remains visible around the moon. This is the first eclipse season of the year and annular eclipses are not commonly visible from many populated areas. News and astronomy sites are providing schedules and live coverage for those who cannot see it in person. Key details: - Date and basic timing: the article reports the eclipse will occur on Feb. 17, with a cited time of about 7:01 a.m. ET for the event. - Visibility: the full annular phase will be visible only along a narrow path across remote regions of Antarctica. A wider partial eclipse is reported to be visible from parts of Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Mozambique and Madagascar, and across large portions of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. - Global schedule: Time and Date is cited with a timeline showing the partial eclipse beginning near 4:56 a.m. ET, a maximum (ring of fire) around 7:12 a.m. ET, and an end near 9:27 a.m. ET. - Viewing notes: the article reports that certified solar eclipse glasses are required for direct viewing of the sun and that regular sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection. Livestreaming of the event is noted as available via Time and Date. - Next eclipse: the article notes the next major solar eclipse will be a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, which is reported to be partially visible across much of North America. Summary: The annular eclipse will produce a full "ring of fire" only along a narrow corridor in Antarctica while a broader partial eclipse will be observable across several southern hemisphere countries and large ocean areas. Time and Date is providing a global timeline and livestream coverage, and the next major solar eclipse reported is on Aug. 12, 2026.