If you looked up into the sky last night, you may have witnessed an annular solar eclipse, when the moon does not completely block the sun, but leaves a fiery ring around its circumference. Also known as the Ring of Fire, it was visible from only certain parts of the world – the Chinese coast, northern Taiwan, the south of Japan, and the western United States. For American skywatchers this was particularly signifiant since it marked the first time in 18 years that an annular solar eclipse could be seen from the United States!

Of course, photographers came out in full force looking to document this momentous event. Here, then, are our picks for the most spectacular solar eclipse photos taken in 2012 which includes some magnificent composite shots at the end.

First photo credit: AP/Michael Chow

Machida, on the outskirts of Tokyo

AP/Itsuo Inouye

Rocky Mountains, seen from downtown Denver, Colorado

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Monument Valley Tribal Park in Utah

Reuters/Gene Blevins

Taipei, Taiwan

AP/Wally Santana

Hirai Daini Elementary School in Tokyo

Reuters/Issei Kato

Gardnerville, Nevada

AP/Cathleen Allison

Central Point, Oregon

Louis Ruth

Kasanui, Japan

Miyamoto Y

Tokyo, Japan

Kim Nilsson

Mt Shasta, California

Randall enton

Tokyo, Japan

Yoshihiro Sekine