First photo voltaic eclipse of 2026 blazes a ‘ring of fire’ above Antarctica

First photo voltaic eclipse of 2026 blazes a ‘ring of fire’ above Antarctica

By Jackie Flynn Mogensen edited by Claire Cameron

On Tuesday elements of the Southern Hemisphere have been graced by a “ring of fire” solar eclipse—a celestial marvel that happens when the moon is at or close to its farthest distance from Earth and passes straight between our planet and the solar. Because the moon’s diameter seems smaller than that of the solar, our star seems to us like a fiery halo of sunshine within the sky, therefore the eclipse’s nickname.

The photo voltaic eclipse, the primary of 2026, reached its maximum at 7:12 A.M. EST. The phenomenon was seen in some elements of Antarctica, Africa and South America.

The occasion, additionally referred to as an annular photo voltaic eclipse, reportedly lasted about two hours from begin to end as considered from Concordia Station in Antarctica, and the fiery ring was seen for simply greater than two minutes. Only sky-gazers in Antarctica would have seen the complete ring.

On supporting science journalism

If you are having fun with this text, contemplate supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By buying a subscription you’re serving to to make sure the way forward for impactful tales in regards to the discoveries and concepts shaping our world as we speak.

If you weren’t among the many fortunate individuals—or penguins—to have caught the eclipse, don’t fret: one other one is coming quickly.

A complete lunar eclipse—wherein Earth passes between the solar and the moon, and we see our pure satellite tv for pc’s colour flip to a bloody crimson—is because of happen on March 2. And a complete photo voltaic eclipse—when the moon passes in entrance of the solar and totally obscures the star from our view—will grace the Northern Hemisphere on August 12. The photo voltaic eclipse’s path of totality, the place individuals can count on the solar to vanish, will traverse the Arctic, Greenland and Spain. But viewers in elements of North America, northern Europe and Africa will nonetheless have the ability to see a partial eclipse.

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you loved this text, I’d prefer to ask on your help. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and trade for 180 years, and proper now could be the most important second in that two-century historical past.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I used to be 12 years outdated, and it helped form the way in which I have a look at the world. SciAm all the time educates and delights me, and evokes a way of awe for our huge, stunning universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you assist be certain that our protection is centered on significant analysis and discovery; that we’ve the sources to report on the selections that threaten labs throughout the U.S.; and that we help each budding and dealing scientists at a time when the worth of science itself too usually goes unrecognized.

In return, you get important information, fascinating podcasts, sensible infographics, can’t-miss newsletters, must-watch movies, difficult video games, and the science world’s greatest writing and reporting. You may even present somebody a subscription.

There has by no means been a extra necessary time for us to face up and present why science issues. I hope you’ll help us in that mission.