Annular Solar Eclipse on February 6, 2027: Path, Duration, and Viewing Locations
An annular solar eclipse will occur on February 6, 2027, with the moon covering 93% of the sun's disk and creating a visible 'ring of fire' for up to 7 minutes and 51 seconds. The path of annularity will cross southern Chile and Argentina in South America, then continue across the Atlantic to West Africa. Eclipse chasers should plan for Argentina's Patagonian plains, which offer the best combination of eclipse visibility and favorable weather conditions.
An annular solar eclipse will take place on February 6, 2027, when the moon's shadow will not quite reach Earth, leaving a bright ring of the sun visible around the moon's silhouette. At the point of greatest eclipse in the Pacific, the moon will obscure 93% of the sun's disk, making this one of the longest annular solar eclipses of the decade with a duration of 7 minutes and 51 seconds. The path of annularity spans 9,011 miles with a width of 180-220 miles, beginning southwest of Easter Island and crossing southern Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and a small portion of Brazil before continuing across the Atlantic to West Africa, including Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. For optimal viewing on land, Argentina's Patagonian plains offer the best conditions, with cloud cover as low as 30% in February compared to 65% in Chile's mountainous regions. Specific recommended locations include El Maitén, Esquel, and Trevelin in Argentina, where annularity will occur near midday. Observers are warned that it is never safe to view the eclipse without proper solar eclipse glasses.
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- Space.comCenter
Annular solar eclipse 2027: everything you need to know about the 'ring of fire' on Feb. 6
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