Rare hybrid solar eclipse wows world

Stan Honda / AFP - Getty Images

A partial Solar eclipse is seen just after sunrise over the Queens borough of New York across the East River on Nov. 3, 2013 in New York.

Miguel A. Lopes / EPA

People use special glasses that allow them to watch a rare solar eclipse showing the Sun partially blocked by the Moon passing in front, as seen in Estoril near Lisbon, Portugal, on Nov. 3 2013.

By Tariq Malik, Space.com

A rare solar eclipse that began as a "ring of fire" and transformed into a spectacular total eclipse of the sun amazed skywatchers from North America to Africa on Sunday, and we've got the photos to prove it.

The Nov. 3 celestial event was a rare hybrid solar eclipse, which began over the Atlantic Ocean as an annular eclipse and transitioned into a full total solar eclipse for observers along the narrow path of totality in the eastern Atlantic and over parts of Africa.

Observers along the U.S. East Coast and parts of Canada, meanwhile, awoke to a partial solar eclipse at sunrise.

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Abdel-Halim Shahaby / Reuters

A bird flies as sun is partially eclipsed in Sidon, Lebanon, on Nov. 3, 2013.

Carl De Souza / AFP - Getty Images

Members of the Rendile tribe prepare to watch a hybrid eclipse in Sibiloi national Park in Turkana, Kenya on Nov. 3, 2013. Astronomy enthusiasts in Kenya caught a partial glimpse of a rare "Hybrid Total Eclipse" which hasn't been witnessed in Africa for over 40 years, though weather hampered a view of the complete eclipse.

Kamran Jebreili / AP

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany steers his car during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 3, 2013. The moon crosses in front of the sun during a partial solar eclipse at background.

Steve Jordan / AFP - Getty Images

A woman looks at a rare solar eclipse wearing special glasses, on Nov. 3, 2013 in Libreville, Gabon. At its peak over central Gabon, the sun was blocked out for about one minute.

Sayyid Azim / AP

Partial Solar Eclipse takes place in Nairobi, Kenya, on Nov. 3, 2013. Kenya boasts it is one of the best locations in the world to view this hybrid solar eclipse, which according to scientists is a rare occurrence. The total phase of the solar eclipse will be very brief and will only be seen in Kenya for 15 seconds.

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Watch for Sunday's strange solar eclipse on East Coast — and online