The first solar eclipse of 2026 will happen on Tuesday, February 17, bringing with it a rare annular event - the striking "ring of fire" - visible only along a slim corridor cutting across Antarctica. For those within this path, it offers a brief but extraordinary view of one of the year's standout celestial spectacles. This type of eclipse, known as an annular solar eclipse, happens when the Moon moves directly between Earth and the Sun but is positioned too far from our planet to cover the Sun completely. As a result, a thin, brilliant ring of sunlight remains visible around the Moon's silhouette.

Britons in the UK won't be able to enjoy the 'Ring of Fire', but as for any eclipse, experts have urged people not to look at the phenomenon with the naked eye. According to experts, staring directly at the sun is hazardous, even when most of its surface is obscured, so proper eclipse glasses are essential. These specialised viewers filter out harmful ultraviolet rays and block nearly all visible light, offering protection that ordinary sunglasses or binoculars simply cannot provide. Genuine eclipse glasses should indicate compliance with the ISO 123122 safety standard, though experts warn that counterfeit products may falsely display this label.

The phenomenon will begin at 9.56am UTC and ends at 2.28pm UTC.

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