Annular solar eclipse · 6 Feb 2027
Annular solar eclipse of 6 February 2027: path map and times
On Saturday 6 February 2027 the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun but is too far from Earth to cover it completely. Inside a narrow track, observers see a bright "ring of fire" around the Moon's dark disc. This is an annular eclipse. At greatest eclipse the annular phase lasts 7 minutes 51 seconds, which EclipseWise describes as "a relatively long annular eclipse". The Moon covers 92.8% of the Sun's diameter (eclipse magnitude 0.928) and 86% of its area.
Where the ring of fire is visible
The Moon's shadow touches down in the South Pacific at 14:04 UT. It crosses southern Chile and Argentina, then heads out over the South Atlantic. Greatest eclipse is at 15:59 UT in the Atlantic off southern Brazil (31°18′S, 48°28′W), where the path is about 282 km wide. The track ends at sunset near the Gulf of Guinea coast of West Africa at 17:55 UT. NASA and EclipseWise list the annular zone as Chile, Argentina and the Atlantic. A partial eclipse is visible across South America, Antarctica and western and southern Africa.
Times for towns in or near the path
| Place | Ring of fire (local time) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Castro, Chiloé, Chile | 11:49:54–11:54:19 (UTC−3) | 4m24s |
| Chaitén, Chile | 11:50:15–11:57:24 (UTC−3) | 7m08s |
| Esquel, Argentina | 11:52:32–12:00:03 (UTC−3) | 7m31s |
| Viedma, Argentina | 12:09:56–12:17:08 (UTC−3) | 7m11s |
| Bahía Blanca, Argentina | 12:15:21–12:19:21 (UTC−3) | 4m00s |
| Necochea, Argentina | 12:21:02–12:28:44 (UTC−3) | 7m42s |
| Mar del Plata, Argentina | 12:24:19–12:31:58 (UTC−3) | 7m38s |
| Accra, Ghana (Sun 4° up, sunset) | 17:49:39–17:55:09 (UTC+0) | 5m30s |
Several big cities sit just outside the path and see only a deep partial eclipse. They include Buenos Aires (magnitude 0.88), Montevideo, Santiago, Puerto Montt, Bariloche, Neuquén, Trelew, Comodoro Rivadavia and Coyhaique. A few kilometres makes the difference, so drop a pin on the map to check your exact spot.
Choosing where to watch
Duration is longest near the centreline and falls to zero at the edges. Castro (4m24s) and Bahía Blanca (4m00s) sit closer to the edge of the path than Chaitén or Necochea, which is why their annular phase is shorter. On the Atlantic coast, Necochea and Mar del Plata get more than 7½ minutes with the Sun high in the sky (about 65° at maximum). In West Africa the ring appears just as the Sun is setting, so you need a clear, flat western horizon.
How to watch safely
An annular eclipse is never safe to look at with the naked eye, even at maximum, because about 14% of the Sun's surface is still exposed. Use eclipse glasses or a handheld viewer that meets the ISO 12312-2 standard for the entire event. Fit cameras, binoculars and telescopes with proper solar filters, and never use eclipse glasses behind them. Two weeks later, on 20 February 2027, there's also a penumbral lunar eclipse.
FAQ
When is the annular eclipse of February 2027?
Saturday 6 February 2027. Greatest eclipse is at 15:59 UT. In Argentina (UTC−3) the ring of fire appears around midday, roughly 11:50 in the west to 12:30 on the Atlantic coast.
Where can I see the ring of fire in 2027?
Inside a path about 280 km wide that crosses southern Chile (including Chiloé and Chaitén), Argentina (including Esquel, Viedma, Necochea and Mar del Plata) and the South Atlantic, ending at sunset in West Africa.
How long does the February 2027 annular eclipse last?
Up to 7 minutes 51 seconds at greatest eclipse and 7m53.5s at the point of greatest duration, both over the South Atlantic. On land, Necochea gets 7m42s and Mar del Plata 7m38s.
Is Buenos Aires in the path?
No. Buenos Aires is just north of the path and sees a partial eclipse with 88% of the Sun's diameter covered.
Can I look at an annular eclipse without glasses?
No. Keep ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses on for the whole eclipse, including the ring-of-fire phase.
Drop a pin, search a city or use your location to see your own times and duration.
Sources: NASA GSFC and EclipseWise.