RAS question
What type of solar eclipse occurred on February 17, 2026?
Correct answer: (C) Annular solar eclipse.
The solar eclipse on 17 February 2026 was an annular solar eclipse.
Explanation
NASA's eclipse page for 17 February 2026 identifies the event as an annular solar eclipse. It was the Ring of Fire type, not a total or hybrid event, and it was not visible in India. The NASA page is not just a generic eclipse listing; it is the dedicated map page for this date, showing the eclipse path across Earth's surface and linking to the event's eclipse data. Therefore, the useful exam takeaway is the classification: for 17 February 2026, remember annular solar eclipse, with India not in the visibility zone.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) A partial solar eclipse is wrong because NASA's dedicated page classifies the 17 February 2026 event as annular, the Ring of Fire type.
- (B) A hybrid solar eclipse is wrong because the NASA event page does not classify this date as hybrid.
- (D) A total solar eclipse is wrong because the supported classification for this date is annular, the Ring of Fire type, not total.
Concept
This tests basic astronomy under Science & Technology: matching a dated solar-eclipse event with its correct type. It recurs in RAS-style current science because official eclipse listings give precise, easily verifiable facts and visibility cues.