Images of the rare 'ring of fire' solar eclipse phenomenon in South America.

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 cameras to a cloudy sky against a backdrop of “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 shows 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 in a straight line. The Moon casts a shadow that can block some or all of the Sun's light.

In an annular solar eclipse, the Moon covers the entire 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.

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

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

At first, it appears as if a bite has been taken from the Sun. The bite grows larger and 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

When day ends, birds and animals sometimes enter their nocturnal routines, thinking that sunset is near.

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

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

Children and adults alike enjoyed watching the solar eclipse. Photo: AP

Hoang Anh (according to AFP, AP)

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