'Ring Of Fire' Eclipse Creates Surreal Morning Sky In DC [PHOTOS]

VIRGINIA/DC — The "ring of fire" eclipse was visible in the D.C. area Thursday morning, and residents captured remarkable images of the phenomenon.

The eclipse was visible in D.C. from around 5:42 a.m. to 6:29 a.m. Concern was originally high that overcast skies would block out the eclipse. Instead, clouds lifted overnight, which allowed the sliver of a sun to shine through, according to The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.

The eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, creating a rare visual effect that was visible across North America. While not quite as dramatic as the hotly promoted total eclipse in the summer of 2017, Thursday's event was still unique.

"Since the Moon does not block the entire view of the Sun, it will look like a dark disk on top of a larger, bright disk," NASA said. "This creates what looks like a ring of fire around the Moon."

Check out some of the photographs taken locally of the phenomenon that were shared on social media.

Did you take a good photograph of the eclipse and would like to see it featured on Patch? Email your photos to virginia@patch.com.

Partial solar eclipse and the U.S. Capitol.

Waiting for the solar eclipse in D.C. while watching the sun rise with a friend.

From behind the U.S. Capitol building.

Beautiful crescent sun over D.C.

The partial eclipse getting started over D.C.