THIS RING of fire in the sky is the annular solar eclipse that wowed our cousins down-under. The moon moved across the sun for just a few minutes, with the maximum duration of four minutes and thirty seconds in Kowayama in Queensland. Local eclipse hunter Joseph Cali, 49, travelled to a spot near Newman in Western Australia to take the best pictures possible of this impressive natural phenomenon at maximum eclipse. Cali, a Laboratory Manager at the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, captured the stunning natural wonder in a series of stunning snaps. An annular eclipse is different from a full solar eclipse where the moon totally blocks out the sun and only the atmosphere of the sun called the corona can be seen. During an annular eclipse, the moon is further away from our planet making it look smaller in relation to the sun. This means more of the sun can be seen and the ring produced by the moon moving across the sun is larger than a full eclipse.
ARM extended and head flung back, this little chipmunk performs a loose-limbed yoga move .
SQUEEZING their furry faces through a hole in a tree, a trio of curious baby squirrels leave their nest for the first time to explore their surroundings .
These are the faces of orphans suffering from the horrifying effects of chemical warfare .
STAIRWAY obsessed photographers have captured psychedelic shots that will mesmerise you .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .
BURSTING colours of reds, pinks and purples give the illusion of a collection of stunning flowers .
A little clownfish opens its mouth to reveal a blood sucking intruder living on its tongue .
An artist has transformed traditional Thanksgiving dinners into mini-masterpieces .
A panic stricken kitten that got her head stuck in a car tyre has been freed by quick thinking RSPCA staff .
FISTS fly as two gorillas take each other on in a dramatic battle .
STARING open-mouthed into the camera, this shocked fish looks out of place in the middle of its angry friends .