January 26, 2028
On January 26, 2028, an annular solar eclipse — a bright 'ring of fire' — crosses the Americas and the Atlantic before reaching Spain and Portugal. Because the Moon is near the far point of its orbit, it appears slightly too small to cover the Sun, leaving a brilliant ring of light rather than true darkness.
Where it's visible
The path of annularity runs from the eastern Pacific across Ecuador, Peru, northern Brazil and French Guiana, then over the Atlantic to Portugal and southern Spain. A much larger area of the Americas, the Atlantic and western Europe will see a partial eclipse outside that path.
What to expect
Rather than going dark, the Sun shrinks to a thin, dazzling ring around the black disc of the Moon, and annularity lasts several minutes near the centre line. It never becomes a total eclipse anywhere along the track, so the corona does not appear.
Watching it safely
This is the crucial difference from a total eclipse: because the Sun is never fully covered, it is never safe to look at an annular eclipse without certified ISO 12312-2 filters. There is no naked-eye moment at any point — not even at the peak of the ring — and ordinary sunglasses are never safe.
Common questions
Is the 2028 eclipse a total eclipse?
No — it is an annular eclipse, a 'ring of fire'. The Moon is too far from Earth to cover the Sun completely, so a bright ring of sunlight always remains. There is no totality and no safe naked-eye moment.
Where can I see the 2028 ring of fire?
The path of annularity crosses the eastern Pacific, Ecuador, Peru, northern Brazil and French Guiana, then the Atlantic to Portugal and southern Spain on January 26, 2028. Elsewhere it is a partial eclipse.
Do I need eclipse glasses for an annular eclipse?
Absolutely, the entire time. Unlike a total eclipse, an annular eclipse never has a safe naked-eye moment, so certified ISO 12312-2 glasses must stay on throughout.
The sooner one: August 12, 2026
Before any of these, a total solar eclipse crosses Iceland and Spain on August 12, 2026. See it for your city →