June 1, 2030
On June 1, 2030, an annular solar eclipse traces a long arc from North Africa and southern Europe across Russia, China and Japan. Because the Moon sits too far from Earth to cover the Sun completely, a blazing ring of light remains visible at the peak — up to 5 minutes and 16 seconds of annularity at greatest eclipse. It is one of the most widely travelled 'ring of fire' paths in recent years, stretching from the Mediterranean all the way to the Pacific.
Where it's visible
The path of annularity runs from North Africa into southern and eastern Europe, including Greece and Turkey, then sweeps across Russia, China and Japan. The point of greatest eclipse falls over Russia at roughly 56.5°N, 80.1°E. Across a far wider area of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, observers will see a partial eclipse as the Moon takes a bite out of the Sun.
What to expect
Rather than darkness, the sky stays bright as the Moon slides in front of the Sun and leaves a thin, dazzling ring of sunlight around its silhouette — annularity lasts up to five minutes and sixteen seconds near the centre line. The corona never appears and the sky does not go dark, but the ring itself is a genuinely striking sight worth planning for.
Watching it safely
Because the Sun is never fully covered during an annular eclipse, it is never safe to look without certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses — there is no naked-eye moment at any point, not even at the peak of the ring. Ordinary sunglasses offer no protection whatsoever, so keep your certified filters on from start to finish.
Common questions
When and where is the 2030 annular solar eclipse?
June 1, 2030. The path of annularity runs from North Africa through Greece and Turkey, then across Russia, China and Japan, with greatest eclipse over Russia. A much wider area of Europe, Africa and Asia sees a partial eclipse.
Where can I see the ring of fire on June 1, 2030?
You need to be inside the central path, which crosses North Africa, Greece, Turkey, Russia, China and Japan. Outside that band you will still see the Moon cover part of the Sun, but the ring effect is only visible from within the path of annularity.
Is it ever safe to look at the 2030 eclipse without glasses?
No — not at any moment, from any location. This is an annular eclipse, so the Sun is never fully blocked. Certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse filters must be worn throughout the entire event, even at the peak of annularity.
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 →