![A 'ring of fire' effect seen during the eclipse](http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/FB0D/production/_90996246_gettyimages-598319852.jpg)
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.
![The eclipse is seen behind the Askari monument in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.](http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/142ED/production/_90996628_gettyimages-598320620-4.jpg)
![People use a puddle of water to look at a annular solar eclipse in the sky of in Dar es Salaam on September 1, 2016.](http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/AE19/production/_90996544_gettyimages-598320940.jpg)
![The moon moving to cover the sun for a annular solar eclipse in the sky of in Dar es Salaam.](http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/185C3/production/_90997799_gettyimages-598320640-1.jpg)
![A woman looks through eclipse viewing glasses in Saint-Louis, on the island of La Reunion.](http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/15931/production/_90996388_gettyimages-598321684.jpg)
![This composite image showing the progress of the eclipse as seen from La Reunion.](http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/15D19/production/_90996398_eclipse_composite.jpg)
![People look through eclipse viewing glasses, telescopes or photo cameras on the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion.](http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/ACED/production/_90996244_gettyimages-598321084.jpg)
We actually dint see it in Ghana