Rare "ring of fire" solar eclipse captured in spectacular photos from around the world

Eager skywatchers across the globe were gifted a spectacular annular solar eclipse Thursday morning — and they didn't pass up the opportunity to document it. Millions of people around the world marveled at the sight, which appeared as a glowing "ring of fire" in the night sky. 

Astrophotographers pulled out all the stops to capture stunning images of the celestial phenomenon, which was fully visible in parts of Canada, Greenland, the Arctic Ocean and Siberia, and partially visible for much of the rest of northeastern North America, Greenland, northern Europe and northern Asia.  A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, completely blocking the sun's light. During an annular solar eclipse, the moon does not completely cover the sun as it passes, leaving some sunlight visible.