Partial annular solar eclipse on Tuesday

An annular eclipse of the sun will occur on Tuesday, marking the first solar eclipse of the year.

“Solar eclipse will begin at 15.56 hours on February 17, 2026 . . . It will end at 20.27 hours on the day,” said a release of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate  on Sunday evening.

Despite the celestial event has generated significant curiosity among skywatchers and astronomers, the eclipse will be visible in the region covering South Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Antarctica, it said.

As the central path of the solar eclipse, it mentioned the place at North-West from the Chilean Antarctic Research Yelcho Base of Antarctica in the Southern Ocean. 

It will end at the South-East of Ving-China Inland of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, the ISPR added.

The eclipse occurs when the Moon is farther from earth, creating a unique visual.