Annular Solar Eclipse 2026: Stunning ‘Ring of Fire’ Captured Over Antarctica As Moon Covers 96% of Sun (See Pics)
On February 17, a stunning "Ring of Fire" annular solar eclipse dazzled onlookers in Antarctica, with the moon covering 96 per cent of the sun. While the full halo was visible only at remote research stations like Concordia, millions in Africa and South America shared photos of a partial eclipse as social media trended with #SolarEclipse2026.
Mumbai, February 18: The first celestial spectacle of 2026 arrived on Tuesday, February 17, as an annular solar eclipse (surya grahan) swept across the Southern Hemisphere. While the full "Ring of Fire" was primarily visible only to a few scientists and explorers in remote Antarctica, the event sparked a global digital phenomenon. By Tuesday evening, social media platforms were flooded with photos and high-definition live-stream captures, ranging from the perfect fiery halo seen at the South Pole to dramatic crescent suns observed from the southern tips of Africa and South America.
A Rare View from the Frozen Continent
The path of annularity - the narrow track where the Moon perfectly centers itself against the Sun - covered a 383-mile-wide corridor across East Antarctica. At its peak around 12:12 UTC, the Moon covered approximately 96 per cent of the solar disk. Surya Grahan 2026: Google Releases ‘Ring of Fire’ Animation for Annular Solar Eclipse on Search Page.
Because the central path was limited to uninhabited or research-heavy regions, the most striking images came from stations like Concordia and Mirny, where small groups of researchers documented the 2-minute-and-20-second annularity. Aerial observers on chartered "eclipse flights" from Australia also shared rare perspective shots of the Moon's shadow trailing across the Antarctic ice shelf.
Netizens Share Photos of Annular Solar Eclipse 2026
Photos Capturing Today’s Annular Solar Eclipse
Ring of Fire Captured Over Antarctica
Annular ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse Swept Over Remote Antarctica
Partial Views Across the Southern Hemisphere
While the "Ring of Fire" was elusive, over 170 million people lived within the zone of a partial eclipse. Residents in Cape Town, South Africa, and Punta Arenas, Chile, shared images of the Sun appearing as a sharp, glowing sliver during the afternoon.
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South Africa: Skygazers in Johannesburg and Durban saw a 10% to 30% coverage, creating a subtle but noticeable dimming of daylight.
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South America: In southern Argentina and Chile, the eclipse was visible shortly after sunrise, with photographers capturing the "crescent sun" reflected over the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Surya Grahan 2026: Date, India Time, and Visibility of the ‘Ring of Fire’ Annular Solar Eclipse.
The Digital Eclipse Experience
For the majority of the world, including India, Europe, and North America, the event remained below the horizon. However, space agencies like NASA and organisations like Time and Date provided live-streamed coverage, allowing millions to participate virtually. The hashtag #SolarEclipse2026 trended throughout the day, featuring a mix of professional astrophotography and "pinhole projector" photos - a safe DIY method where the crescent sun is projected onto the ground using a piece of cardboard.
Looking Ahead: The Total Eclipse of August
The February 17 event serves as a "celestial warm-up" for the more accessible Total Solar Eclipse scheduled for August 12, 2026. That event is expected to draw millions of tourists to Greenland, Iceland, and Northern Spain, where the Sun will be completely obscured, revealing the solar corona.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 18, 2026 07:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).