An annular solar eclipse was visible Tuesday over Antarctica, offering a rare “ring of fire” spectacle to researchers stationed on the continent. The eclipse reached its maximum point at 12:13:06 UTC, according to data from the eclipse’s path, with annularity – the period when the Moon appears to cover the Sun’s center – lasting just over two minutes.
The phenomenon occurred as the Moon passed between the Earth and the Sun, appearing smaller than the Sun due to its distance from Earth. This alignment created a brilliant ring of sunlight around the Moon’s silhouette. While the full annular eclipse was only visible from Antarctica, a partial eclipse was observable from the southern tips of Argentina and Chile, as well as parts of southern Africa, including South Africa, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
The eclipse’s timing coincided with the Moon being approximately 6.8 days after apogee – its farthest point from Earth – and 7.5 days before perigee, its closest point. This positioning contributed to the annular effect, as the Moon’s apparent diameter was smaller than the Sun’s. The maximum width of the path of annularity was 616 kilometers (383 miles).
Researchers at Concordia Station in Antarctica reported that the event lasted approximately two hours from start to finish, with the “ring of fire” visible for a little over two minutes. Images captured during the eclipse showed the dramatic effect against the Antarctic landscape.
The eclipse is the first of two solar events scheduled for 2026. A total lunar eclipse, where the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon causing the moon to appear red, is expected to occur on March 14th. The next annular solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026.
