KARACHI: According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the first solar eclipse of 2026 is set to unfold today (Tuesday), though it will remain invisible to skywatchers in Pakistan.
The PMD confirmed that the eclipse will begin at 2:56 pm, peak at 5:12 pm, and conclude by 7:28 pm Pakistan Standard Time.
This event is an annular solar eclipse, popularly known as the “Ring of Fire”, where the moon passes in front of the Sun but does not completely obscure it, leaving a luminous, fiery ring along its edges.
The full eclipse will be observable only in remote Antarctic regions, where almost 96% of the Sun will be covered for slightly over two minutes.
Meanwhile, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in South America, including Chile and Argentina, as well as southern Africa, with partial coverage also over the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
The PMD noted that Pakistan will experience two solar and two lunar eclipses in 2026, though today’s phenomenon will not be visible locally.
Astronomy enthusiasts worldwide are encouraged to watch live streams or online broadcasts to witness the dazzling “Ring of Fire,” a spectacle accessible to only a privileged few.
