Eclipse in Africa: 'Ring of Fire' eclipse wows stargazers

A 'ring of fire' effect seen during the eclipseAFP
The "ring of fire" - an annular eclipse - happens when the moon is far away from Earth during a transit

Stargazers in parts of Africa have been treated to a spectacular "ring of fire" in the sky as the sun was almost - but not completely - eclipsed.

An annular eclipse happens when the moon is farther away from the Earth than during a total eclipse.

The result is a bright circle of sunshine surrounding a dark, shadowy core.

The best views were seen in Tanzania, where the event lasted about three minutes.

The eclipse could also be viewed in parts of Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion.

The moon does not move in a perfect circle around the earth - instead, its orbit is slightly elliptical. That means the distance of the moon varies between around 225,000-252,000 miles (362,000-405,555 km).

When the moon is farther away from the earth, it appears smaller - and does not totally cover the sun's disc during a total eclipse. The result is also known as a "ring of fire" eclipse.

The next eclipse is due to take place in February 2017, and can be seen from parts of South America and Africa.

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This is how it looked behind the Askari monument in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, some watched the eclipse in reflections
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The event lasted only a few minutes in any one location, as the moon's shadow crossed Africa
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It can be very dangerous to look at an eclipse, so filters - either professional or homemade - are used
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This composite image shows the progress of the eclipse as seen from La Reunion
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Stargazers take in the sight from La Reunion

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