2026 Annular Solar Eclipse

Annular Solar Eclipse
2026 February 17

It’s possible that only a few people will view this  eclipse from within the annular zone. It’s a challenge to reach and there are only two inhabited locations within the annular shadow, neither of which are set up to welcome tourists. Viewing from the air is a comfortable approach, but an annular eclipse’s appeal may be limited for such a large expense. 

There may be cruise ships to tackle the eclipse, as some companies are already taking tourists into these waters, though it may be a considerable diversion to reach the track. Ponant has one such adventure in 2026, but it leaves Tasmania on the day of the eclipse. Heritage Expeditions out of New Zealand occasionally sails into the sub-Antarctic Islands but no dates are set for 2026.

Flights that intercept the eclipse track are possible from Australia (likely from Perth), a one-way distance of 2600 kilometres.

At the worst, a few dozen Russian researchers at Mirnyy and a small number of French/Italian inhabitants at Concordia will record the event for posterity.

Figure 1: Average daytime cloud cover along the track of the annular solar eclipse. Data are derived from daily satellite overpasses 2000-2020. Data: NASA. Eclipse track: Xavier Jubier.

The weather’s not so great either. Over the ocean and along the coast, cloud cover is high and sunshine precious. Station measurements in Table 1 show sunshine amounts less than 50% of the maximum possible. Satellite measurements of cloud cover range from a high of 65% on the coast at Mirnyy to around 35 % at the best places in the interior—and interior sites come with some biting temperatures.

But, if you do get there, it will be a great experience.

Table 1: Climatological parameters at selected stations along the eclipse track.

 

Figure 2: Terra satellite image acquired 17 February 2024. Image: NASA.

Posted November 2024
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