On Saturday 6 February 2027, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun but will be slightly too far from Earth to cover it completely. For a few minutes, people along a narrow track will see a blazing “ring of fire” around the dark Moon. This annular solar eclipse 2027 path starts in southern Chile, sweeps across Argentina and Uruguay, crosses the South Atlantic and ends at sunset over the coast of West Africa.
Key facts at a glance
| Type | Annular (“ring of fire”) solar eclipse |
|---|---|
| Date | 6 February 2027 |
| Greatest eclipse | 16:00 UTC, over the South Atlantic (31.3° S, 48.5° W) |
| Longest ring of fire | 7 minutes 51 seconds (at sea) |
| Path width | About 282 km |
| Magnitude | 0.928: the Moon covers about 93% of the Sun’s width |
| Ring visible from | Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, a sliver of Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria |
| Partial eclipse from | Most of South America, the western half of Africa and parts of Antarctica |
What is an annular eclipse?
The Moon’s orbit is slightly oval, so its distance from Earth changes through the month. When a solar eclipse happens while the Moon is near its farthest point, its disc looks a little smaller than the Sun’s. Instead of the sky going dark, a thin, brilliant ring of sunlight stays visible around the Moon. That ring is the “annulus”, from the Latin word for ring. Outside the narrow central path, observers see a partial eclipse, with a bite taken out of the Sun.
Because some of the Sun is always visible, an annular eclipse is never safe to look at with the naked eye, not even at the moment the ring forms. More on that below.
Where the ring of fire will be visible
Chile and Argentina (Patagonia)
The path makes landfall around midday over Chiloé Island in Chile, including Quellón, then crosses the Andes near Futaleufú. In Argentina it passes over Esquel, Trevelin and El Bolsón, then across the Patagonian steppe through Ingeniero Jacobacci, Maquinchao and San Antonio Oeste to the Atlantic coast near Viedma. Bahía Blanca lies close to the edge of the path, so its ring lasts only about 3½ minutes.
Uruguay and Brazil
Across the water, the ring is seen along Uruguay’s Atlantic coast, including La Paloma and Punta del Este, for about five to six minutes. The very edge of the path brushes the southern tip of Brazil.
West Africa at sunset
After crossing the ocean, the path reaches the Gulf of Guinea in the late afternoon. Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Takoradi and Accra (Ghana), Lomé (Togo), Cotonou and Porto-Novo (Benin) and Lagos (Nigeria) all see the ring, but with the Sun only a few degrees above the western horizon. A clear, flat view to the west, such as a beach, is essential.
Local times in selected cities
Times are when the ring of fire begins and ends, in local time. The partial phases start about 1¼ hours earlier.
| Place | Ring of fire (local time) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Viedma, Argentina | 12:09:58 – 12:17:08 | 7 min 10 s |
| Bahía Blanca, Argentina (near edge) | around midday | 3 min 26 s |
| Punta del Este, Uruguay | 12:36:03 – 12:41:29 | 5 min 26 s |
| Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire | 17:51:47 – 17:53:11 | 1 min 24 s |
| Accra, Ghana | 17:49:39 – 17:55:10 | 5 min 31 s |
| Lomé, Togo | 17:50:02 – 17:55:20 | 5 min 18 s |
| Cotonou, Benin | 18:49:57 – 18:55:23 | 5 min 26 s |
| Lagos, Nigeria | 18:49:45 – 18:55:21 | 5 min 36 s |
Check the exact sunset time for your location: in Lagos the Sun is almost on the horizon during the ring, so buildings or haze can hide it.
Weather: where are the best chances?
Early February is midsummer in South America and the dry season in West Africa. Long-term cloud records compiled by eclipse meteorologist Jay Anderson (Eclipsophile) favour the Argentine steppe: around San Antonio Oeste, sunshine records suggest roughly a 70% chance of a clear view, better than the Andes and the Chilean coast, where Pacific cloud is more common. Uruguay’s coast sits near 50–55%. In West Africa, cloud is less of a problem than Harmattan dust, which can dim a Sun that is already very low.
How to watch safely
- Use certified eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2) or a handheld solar viewer for every moment of the eclipse, including the ring of fire. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe.
- Never point binoculars, a telescope or a camera at the Sun without a proper solar filter on the front. Focused sunlight can injure your eye instantly.
- Try a pinhole projection: sunlight through a colander or between tree leaves projects dozens of tiny crescents and rings on the ground. It is safe and fun for children.
- Even near sunset in West Africa, do not stare at the Sun. A low Sun is still bright enough to damage your eyes.
Photographing the ring of fire
A solar filter over the lens is required for the whole eclipse. A phone works for wide shots of the scene; for a detailed ring, use a long lens (300 mm or more) on a tripod with a white-light solar filter. In West Africa, the low Sun makes it possible to frame the ring above a skyline or the sea, a rare composition for an annular eclipse.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 6 February 2027 eclipse a total eclipse?
No. It is annular: the Moon covers about 93% of the Sun’s width, leaving a bright ring. The sky darkens slightly but never becomes night-like. The next total solar eclipse is on 2 August 2027.
Will it be visible from India, Europe or North America?
No. The eclipse is only visible from South America, Antarctica and the western half of Africa. Europe, North Africa and the Middle East get a total eclipse later in the year, on 2 August 2027.
How long will the ring of fire last?
Up to 7 minutes 51 seconds at the point of greatest eclipse in the South Atlantic. On land, the longest durations are around 7 minutes in Patagonia and 5½ minutes on the West African coast.
Sources: NASA GSFC, Eclipses during 2027; Solar eclipse of February 6, 2027 (local circumstances table); Eclipsophile weather prospects. Local times are rounded predictions; check a local source closer to the date.