Total solar eclipse 2017: Best photos from around the US

— -- From Oregon to South Carolina, a historic total solar eclipse plunged U.S. cities into complete darkness for a brief moment on Monday.

Out-of-this world photos of the 2017 solar eclipse

1 of 18

Rain clouds obscure the solar eclipse tracking over Spaceship Earth at Epcot at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Aug. 21, 2017.

Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP

Photographers within the 70-mile wide path of totality captured the rare and striking celestial phenomenon, as the moon moved between the sun and Earth and completely blocked the solar surface for a couple minutes, casting a dark shadow on our planet.

In areas with clear skies, the sun's outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by glare, appeared as a ring of ethereal white wisps around the moon while it blocked the sun. Bright stars and planets also appeared in the darkened daytime sky.

As the sun reemerged from behind the moon, it created an astonishing "diamond ring" effect.

Here are some of the best photos of Monday's total solar eclipse.

First look at the solar eclipse from Oregon

1 of 12

Photographer Peter DaSilva is at the Lowell Observatory Solar Eclipse Experience in Madras, Ore. to take photos for ABC News.<br><br>Autumn Stock, 12, Makaya Mackie, 12, and Lupin Amstutz, 13, students from Yosemite Park High School, react to the total solar eclipse at Madras, Ore., Aug. 21, 2017.

Peter DaSilva for ABC News