Rare 'ring of fire' solar eclipse in South America

Stargazers in South America were treated to a spectacular "ring of fire" solar eclipse on Wednesday, visible from Chile's Easter Island and several other places in the region.

The rare sight - which occurs when the Sun suddenly disappears as the Moon passes over it - has attracted dozens of tourists, photographers and astronomy enthusiasts to the Pacific island of 7,000 residents.

The Moon moves across the Sun during an annular solar eclipse in Puerto San Julian, Argentina on October 2, 2024. (Photo: AP).

There, they turned their lenses to a cloudy sky with the backdrop of the 'Moai' statues – the iconic giant statues of Easter Island, long inhabited by Polynesians.

Residents and tourists gather to watch an annular solar eclipse at Isla de Pascua in the Pacific Ocean, Chile on October 2, 2024. (Photo: AFP).

'It was a little sunset ,' Ninoska Huki, 55, said of the 'magical' experience that happened on the island just after noon local time.

A close-up image of the Moon "eating" the Sun during an annular solar eclipse in South America on Wednesday. (Photo: AP).

A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth line up. The Moon creates a shadow that can block some or all of the Sun's light.

During an annular solar eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun except for a ring-shaped portion. This is because the Moon is at a point in its orbit that is farther away from Earth.

"The moon isn't big enough to cover the sun," explains Carolyn Sumners at the Houston Museum of Natural Science .

The Moon covers the Sun to reveal a spectacular "ring of fire." (Photo: AP).

At first, it appears as if there is a bite on the Sun. The bite grows larger until the Moon moves directly in line with the Sun, at which point people nearby often notice a marked drop in temperature and brightness, with a surrounding annulus of fire appearing around the Sun.

A brilliant image of an annular solar eclipse in South America. (Photo: AP).

As the day darkens, birds and animals sometimes enter their nocturnal habits, thinking that dusk is near.

The "Moai" stone statues on Easter Island during an annular solar eclipse. (Photo: AP).

The full 'ring of fire' eclipse lasted about six minutes on Wednesday, starting in the North Pacific before crossing the Andes and Patagonia regions of Latin America. Lasting more than three hours, it ended over the Atlantic Ocean, according to NASA.

Children and adults alike enjoy watching the solar eclipse. (Photo: AP).