Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse to Dazzle Antarctica

The first solar eclipse of 2026 will be visible only in the southernmost continent, home to research stations and diverse wildlife.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The first solar eclipse of 2026 will be an annular or 'ring of fire' eclipse, and it will only be visible in Antarctica. While the full eclipse will only be seen by those in Antarctica, a partial eclipse will be visible from the tips of Chile and Argentina, as well as parts of southeastern Africa. Solar eclipses happen when the sun, moon, and Earth align, and an annular eclipse occurs when the moon is farther away from Earth in its orbit, so it doesn't fully cover the sun.

Why it matters

Solar eclipses are rare and awe-inspiring events that captivate people around the world. This eclipse will be particularly special as it will only be visible from Antarctica, home to research stations and diverse wildlife like penguins. While a partial eclipse will be seen from a few other locations, the full 'ring of fire' effect will only be witnessed by those in Antarctica.

The details

During an annular solar eclipse, the moon appears slightly smaller than the sun, leaving a bright 'ring of fire' visible around the moon's silhouette. This effect is caused by the moon being farther away in its elliptical orbit around the Earth, so it doesn't completely cover the sun's disk. Observers in Antarctica will be able to see this stunning 'ring of fire' effect, while those in Chile, Argentina, and parts of Africa will only see a partial eclipse with a small bite taken out of the sun.

  • The solar eclipse will occur on Tuesday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Joe Llama

An astronomer with Lowell Observatory.

Emily Rice

An astrophysicist with the City University of New York.

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What they’re saying

“The penguins down there are going to have a great show.”

— Joe Llama, Astronomer (kslnewsradio.com)

“It's this beautiful coincidence between the size and the distance of the moon and the sun.”

— Emily Rice, Astrophysicist (kslnewsradio.com)

What’s next

There is a total solar eclipse in the cards in August for skygazers in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and part of Portugal. Swaths of Europe, Africa and North America will be treated to a partial eclipse.

The takeaway

This rare 'ring of fire' solar eclipse will be a once-in-a-lifetime event for those in Antarctica, who will witness the stunning sight of the moon partially obscuring the sun. While only a partial eclipse will be visible from a few other locations, the full effect will captivate those lucky enough to be in the southernmost continent.