Brace yourself for an event that will captivate the southernmost oceans and skies alike: the first solar eclipse of 2026, a dramatic ring of fire over Antarctica that only a fortunate few will witness up close.
On Tuesday, an annular solar eclipse—often described as a “ring of fire”—will thread across the remote reaches of Antarctica, where research stations and a wealth of wildlife call the ice home. If skies cooperate, a wider audience can glimpse a partial eclipse from the distant tips of Chile and Argentina, and from parts of southeastern Africa, including Madagascar, Lesotho, and South Africa.
As astronomer Joe Llama of Lowell Observatory puts it, the penguins down there are in for a remarkable show.
An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon sits farther from Earth in its orbit and doesn’t fully cover the Sun. What remains is a slender, bright ring—the Sun’s core briefly peeking out while its edges glow like a fiery halo. In other words, it’s a stunning celestial coincidence: the sizes and distances align just so, producing this striking visual.
People tracking the event from the ground will see the Sun partially obscured, weather permitting. The Sun’s core isn’t actually “eaten away” during this type of eclipse; rather, the Moon’s increased distance prevents total coverage, leaving a bright ring around its silhouette.
Eclipses occur several times a year, but visibility is limited to those locations lying in the Moon’s shadow path. Last year brought two partial eclipses, and 2024 concluded with a total solar eclipse that crossed North America.
Important safety note: looking directly at the Sun is dangerous, even when it’s mostly hidden. Use eclipse glasses that block ultraviolet and most visible light. Ordinary sunglasses or binoculars aren’t enough protection. Verify that your eclipse glasses comply with ISO 12312-2 standards, as counterfeit products can misrepresent safety.
If you’d rather experience the phenomenon indirectly, you can craft a simple pinhole projector from common household items or use a colander (or a cheese grater) to project Sun images onto the ground.
Looking ahead, a total solar eclipse is anticipated in August, with prime visibility for observers in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and parts of Portugal. Large swaths of Europe, Africa, and North America are likely to witness a partial eclipse.
Notes: this report is produced by the Associated Press Health and Science Department with support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP remains responsible for all content.
