The split second as the moon perfectly aligns with the Sun - leaving just a ring of light spraying out from behind - has been captured on camera.
The once-in-a-lifetime 'ring of fire' solar eclipse was snapped by Philip Jones in Bledsoe, Texas, earlier this year.
It was the first annular eclipse visible in the U.S. in nearly 18 years, according to NASA, and National Geographic reports that it will be more than 10 years before another annular eclipse is visible from the mainland U.S.
Scroll down for more pictures
And it burns burns burns...the 'ring of fire'
Unlike a total eclipse, which occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the Sun, appearing to block the entire star, an annular eclipse covers only part of the Sun, producing what looks like a giant 'ring of fire.'
Mr Jones said: "To capture an eclipse at totality is quite rare. To get the ring of fire, which is basically a 90 per cent eclipse, is even more rare.
"I doubt another ring of fire will occur for the Southern United States in my lifetime."
IT manager Phil, who took up astrophotography in 1998, travelled six hours west to make sure he had a good view of the event.
He added: "I had both cameras set up with programmable intervalometers so that photos could be captured just seconds apart.
The sight was captured in Bledsoe, Texas, earlier this year
"As the eclipse arrived at the ring of fire moment, I watched the LCD screens of each camera to ensure the ring was captured.
"I was thrilled at what I was observing on the screens. The whole evening was magical.
"I was a newspaper photographer during the late 1980's and early 1990's. But I got my first telescope in 1998 and it was only natural for me to attach a camera to it.
"Now I do astrophotography as a hobby and thoroughly enjoy it."