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Feb. 17 Annular Solar Eclipse Will Draw a 'Ring of Fire' Over Antarctica

Only a narrow Antarctic track will see the full annulus, leaving most viewers to watch partial phases or livestreams.

Overview

  • Authoritative forecasts place the partial eclipse from 09:56 to 14:27 UTC, with maximum around 12:12 UTC and an overall duration near 271 minutes.
  • The annular path crosses remote Antarctica and the Southern Ocean; Concordia and Russia’s Mirny stations are on or near the track, while McMurdo will see a deep 86% partial.
  • Outside the track, partial views favor southern Chile and Argentina at sunrise and parts of southern Africa, with no visibility for India, Pakistan or most of Asia.
  • Along the centerline the Moon will cover about 96% of the Sun, producing the ring for up to roughly 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
  • Experts warn that direct viewing is unsafe without certified solar filters, and media and observatories plan livestreams for those outside the viewing regions.