February 17 is the date of the first solar eclipse of 2026.

The first solar eclipse of the year is scheduled for February 17, according to astronomers, although it won’t be seen in Pakistan or most of Asia.

An annular solar eclipse, in which the moon passes directly in front of the sun, is what experts predicted the eclipse will be. Because of its greater distance from Earth at that moment, the moon will not completely obscure the sun, resulting in a dazzling ring known as the “ring of fire.”

Astronomical organisations claim that the eclipse will peak at approximately 12:12 UTC and last from 09:56 to 14:27 UTC.

Only isolated parts of Antarctica will be able to see the entire ring-of-fire view, while southern Africa, some ocean regions, and parts of South America might get a partial eclipse.

The moon is expected to cover almost 96% of the sun, according to scientists, with a nearly two-minute peak view. Live feeds will be available for viewers all over the world to watch the event.

Experts cautioned that staring at the sun directly without the use of protective eyewear can cause severe eye damage..