<\/p>\n The striking phenomenon will be visible only to those watching from within the path of annularity, a 2,661-mile-long and 383-mile-wide (4,282 by 616 kilometers) route where the moon will cover about 96% of the sun’s disk. Few will witness this eclipse, as the annular stage will only be visible from a remote region of Antarctica.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n Viewers across the rest of Antarctica, along with parts of southern Africa and the southernmost regions of South America, will be treated to a partial solar eclipse. The rest of us will be able to follow the event online: official livestream details have not yet been released, but we’ll share them as soon as they become available. You can also track the event as it happens via our solar eclipse live blog.<\/p>\n \n An observation platform at Concordia Station in Antarctica. The Concordia Station is in the path of annularity. (Image credit: IPEV\/PNRA – E. Bondoux)<\/p>\n Solar eclipses<\/a> happen at new moon<\/a>, when the moon lines up perfectly between Earth and the sun, casting its shadow onto our planet. In a total solar eclipse, the moon is close enough to Earth<\/a> that it appears the same size as \u2014 or slightly larger than \u2014 the sun, allowing it to fully cover the sun’s disk and briefly turn day into night.<\/p>\n An annular eclipse, by contrast, occurs when the moon<\/a> is farther from Earth in its slightly elliptical orbit and looks a little smaller than the sun. Instead of blocking the sun completely, it leaves a bright ring of sunlight encircling the moon \u2014 the striking “ring of fire” effect.<\/p>\n Where and when can I see the Feb. 17, 2026 annular solar eclipse?<\/p>\n \n![\"Concordia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2NY8h8FCmRs3YipfT86iii.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"Map](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/u2u9EKJdYAkxwV4ZvtWx9A.jpg\")
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