The first solar eclipse of the year will grace Antarctica, and only a lucky few will get to bask—or waddle—in its glow. Tuesday's annular solar eclipse, known as a "ring of fire," will only be visible in the southernmost continent, home to research stations and diverse wildlife, the AP reports. "The penguins down there are going to have a great show," says astronomer Joe Llama with Lowell Observatory.
Clear skies permitting, more people can catch a partial eclipse with small bites taken out of the sun from the tips of Chile and Argentina and bits of southeastern Africa including Madagascar, Lesotho, and South Africa.
- Solar eclipses happen when the sun, moon, and Earth align just so. The moon casts a shadow that can partially or totally block out the sun's light from Earth. It's "this beautiful coincidence between the size and the distance of the moon and the sun," says astrophysicist Emily Rice with the City University of New York.
- During an annular, or ring-shaped, eclipse, the moon just happens to be farther away from Earth in its orbit so it doesn't totally cover the sun. Only a thin sliver remains visible. "The sun essentially gets its core taken out," Llama says.
- Solar eclipses happen a few times a year, but are only visible from places in the path of the moon's shadow. Two partial eclipses happened last year, and the last total solar eclipse swept across North America in 2024. There is a total solar eclipse in the cards in August for skygazers in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and part of Portugal. Swaths of Europe, Africa, and North America will be treated to a partial eclipse.
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