First solar eclipse photos emerge as spectacular display plunges parts of the globe into darkness

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Stunning images show the solar eclipse around the globe as millions of people gathered to witness Europe's first total eclipse in 27 years.

The celestial event happens when the moon passes in front of the sun, obscuring its light.

A few of the moon partially covering the sun during a solar eclipse as seen from Arija, Spain (REUTERS)

The solar eclipse seen from Berlin, Germany (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

That produces a stunning ring of fire around the lunar surface, as well as eerie events such as the day dramatically dimming and confused birds singing.

A wide band of northern and central Spain was expected to have some of mainland Europe's best views of the eclipse.

A sliver of Greenland and Iceland were set to witness it too weather permitting.

A view of the total eclipse as seen from the Ambassador cruise ship Ambition, off the coast of Greenland (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People use solar eclipse viewing glasses to look at the partial solar eclipse in Noordpolderzijl (ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

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