(Source: Reuters)

For the first time in nearly  100 years, Americans were treated to the rare sight of a total eclipse of the sun while a partial eclipse traversed parts of Canada.

Several states in the US experienced the total eclipse which stretched from Salem, Oregon to Charleston and lasted from around 10:16 a.m. to 2:48 p.m. ET on Monday.

The eclipse moved east, giving those around Regina about 80 percent of an eclipse while those in Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto experienced 70 to 75 percent coverage.

Ottawa and Montreal experienced a partial eclipse of about 60 to 70 percent of the sun covered by the moon even as those further east in Quebec City, Halifax and St. John’s witnessed 60 percent or less of the eclipse.

Interestingly, although many people traveled long distances to witness the once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, eclipses have historically been associated with strange myths as many people around the world have come to regard its occurrence as  bad omen.