New Delhi, Feb. 17 -- Skywatchers around the world are gearing up for the first solar eclipse of 2026, scheduled for Tuesday, 17 February. The event will be an annular solar eclipse-a dramatic alignment in which the Moon passes in front of the Sun but does not block it entirely, leaving a bright ring of sunlight visible in the sky.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth line up in a straight configuration-known to scientists as a syzygy-causing the Moon to cast its shadow on Earth and temporarily block sunlight. In an annular eclipse, the Moon is near its farthest point from Earth. As a result, it appears slightly smaller than the Sun and creates the striking "Ring of Fire" effect.

Other forms of solar eclipses include tota...