A rare celestial phenomenon will greet us on February 17 2026. A ring of fire solar eclipse will occur, where the Moon passes in front of the Sun, but does not completely cover it. As a result, the edge of the Sun will appear like a dazzling ring of bright light.
A ring of fire eclipse occurs because the Moon is at its farthest distance from Earth. In this position, the size of the Moon appears smaller than the Sun during the new Moon phase.
This phenomenon will pass through Antarctica as the main route of the ring of fire. Other regions in the Earth’s southern hemisphere will witness a partial eclipse, where the Moon only covers part of the Sun’s disk.
Eclipse Phases
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The eclipse begins with a partial phase, when the Moon begins to cover the edge of the Sun. For observers in the path of the eclipse, the annularity phase will occur when the Moon is directly in the center of the Sun, creating a spectacular ring of fire effect.
At the peak of a ring of fire eclipse, the Sun will not be completely dark like during a total eclipse. Bright light will still be visible around the Moon, before the eclipse finally returns to its partial phase and ends.
Differences with Total Eclipse
The United States space agency, NASA, explains the main differences between a ring of fire eclipse and a total eclipse.
“In an annular solar eclipse, the Moon is too far from Earth to completely cover the Sun, so the Sun’s light is still visible forming a bright ring,” explained NASA.
The Importance of Eye Safety
NASA also reminded the importance of safety when observing the eclipse.
“Viewing the Sun directly without special protection can cause serious eye damage. Eclipse glasses that meet standards should always be used,” wrote NASA.
Following are the main differences between total and annular solar eclipses:
| Feature | Total Solar Eclipse | Annular Solar Eclipse |
|---|---|---|
| Moon Position | Close to Earth | Far from Earth |
| Relative sizes of the Moon | Bigger than the Sun | Smaller than the Sun |
| Sun Closure | Total | Partial (light ring) |
| Darkness | Very dark | Not completely dark |
Interesting Phenomenon in Early 2026
For astronomy fans, this ring of fire eclipse is one of the most interesting celestial phenomena in early 2026, although unfortunately it cannot be witnessed directly from Indonesia.
date:2026-02-15 08:18:00