What time is the annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17? — solar eclipses over Antarctica
On Feb. 17 (ET) an annular solar eclipse transformed the sun into a dramatic "ring of fire" for observers along a very small corridor of Antarctica. The spectacle was brief — annularity lasted up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds at the greatest eclipse — and was visible as a partial eclipse across wider parts of Antarctica and portions of southern Africa and the southern tip of South America.
Where and when the eclipse unfolded
The path of annularity was narrow and remote: roughly 2, 661 miles long and 383 miles wide (about 4, 282 by 616 kilometers), hugging largely uninhabited stretches of the frozen continent. Only a sliver of Antarctica fell inside the corridor where the moon masked roughly 96% of the sun's disk and produced the full "ring of fire" effect. Elsewhere on the frozen continent and across southern Africa and the southernmost parts of South America, skywatchers experienced a partial solar eclipse rather than full annularity.
Because contact times shift with location, the precise sequence of partial, annular and final contacts depended on where an observer was positioned within that band. The moment of greatest annularity — the point at which the moon's disk most nearly centered on the sun — lasted up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds at its maximum. All times noted for the event are given in Eastern Time (ET), but observers needed local timing to know the exact instants of first contact, maximum eclipse and final contact for their viewing position.
What the sight looked like and who saw it
When the moon was too far from Earth to completely cover the sun, the smaller apparent lunar disk left a bright outer ring visible, producing the well-known "ring of fire. " The annular phase of this eclipse offered a stark, thin band of sunlight surrounding a blackened lunar disk — a striking contrast against the icy Antarctic landscape. The corridor’s remoteness meant only a handful of people witnessed the full annular view in person, though wildlife in the region, including penguins, stood under the fleeting shadow.
Outside the narrow annular path, viewers enjoyed varying degrees of partial eclipse. The partial phases produced noticeable dimming of daylight and a crescent-shaped sun through proper solar filters, but did not create the continuous ring effect reserved for locations within the corridor.
Safety, next eclipses and what to expect
Never look directly at the sun without certified solar filters. Whether an observer experienced a partial eclipse or the annular event, eye safety rules are identical: eclipse glasses or solar filters must be used for any direct viewing, and cameras, telescopes and binoculars require securely mounted solar filters on the front of the optics at all times.
For skywatchers marking their calendars, the next major solar eclipse after Feb. 17 will be a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026. That total eclipse will cross parts of Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, while a wider region of Europe and Africa will see a partial eclipse. Before then, a total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026, will turn the moon a deep red for observers across North America, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia and the Pacific.
This recent annular event served as a reminder that solar eclipses are dramatic but highly localized. Precise viewing times and the quality of the sight depend on your exact coordinates, so careful planning and strict adherence to safe-observing practices are essential for anyone aiming to witness future solar eclipses.
