Annular solar eclipse Antarctic ring of fire
Annular Solar Eclipse of 17 February 2026
The annular path crossed only the Antarctic interior, so only research stations saw the ring. Travellers saw a partial eclipse from Patagonia or southern Africa.
- Greatest eclipse
- 12:11:54 UT
- Longest annularity
- 2m 20s
- Path width
- 617 km
- Magnitude
- 0.963
- Saros series
- 121
- Seen from
- s Argentina & Chile, s Africa, Antarctica
NASA lists the central path as crossing: Antarctica.
What will I see from my location?
Computed in your browser from NASA’s Besselian elements for the 17 February 2026 eclipse. Times include the date and are shown in your device’s time zone.
Local times in 5 cities
Contact times in each city’s local time, sorted by duration of annularity and then by coverage. Sun altitude at maximum in brackets. Only cities where the eclipse is above the horizon are listed.
| City | What you see | Coverage | Begins | Maximum | Ends | Annularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durban South Africa | partial | 16% | 14:10 GMT+2 | 15:05 GMT+2 (45°) | 15:57 GMT+2 | — |
| Johannesburg South Africa | partial | 8% | 14:26 GMT+2 | 15:11 GMT+2 (48°) | 15:54 GMT+2 | — |
| Cape Town South Africa | partial | 5% | 14:01 GMT+2 | 14:43 GMT+2 (58°) | 15:24 GMT+2 | — |
| Gaborone Botswana | partial | 4% | 14:36 GMT+2 | 15:13 GMT+2 (49°) | 15:48 GMT+2 | — |
| Ushuaia Argentina | partial | 3% | 07:04 GMT-3 | 07:31 GMT-3 (7°) | 07:58 GMT-3 | — |
“—” means the contact happens before sunrise or after sunset, or the city is outside the path. Computed from NASA/GSFC Besselian elements; expect agreement with NASA tables to within a few seconds.
Planning a trip for 17 February 2026
- The ring only forms inside the annular path. Outside it you see a partial eclipse. The Sun is never fully covered, so filters stay on throughout.
- Centre line gives a symmetric ring; near the edge you get a longer, lopsided ring with Baily’s beads flickering along one side.
- Check the Sun’s altitude in the table: at sunrise or sunset you need a clear, low horizon in that direction.
Full destination ideas, weather notes and a trip-planning assistant are on the eclipse travel planner.
Questions
What time is the 17 February 2026 solar eclipse?
Greatest eclipse is at 12:11 UT (Universal Time), over 64.7°S 86.8°E. Local times differ by place: use the calculator on this page for your location.
Where can I see annularity on 17 February 2026?
Annular is visible only inside a path about 617 km wide crossing Antarctica.
How long does it last?
The longest annularity is 2m 20s near the point of greatest duration. The whole event, from first to last contact at one place, usually lasts two to three hours, with annularity a few minutes in the middle.
Do I need eclipse glasses?
Yes, the whole time. Even at maximum part of the Sun’s surface stays uncovered, which is enough to damage your eyes. Use ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector.
Sources: NASA/GSFC Solar Eclipses 2021–2030; Besselian elements; path table. Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA’s GSFC.