When to watch today, how to view it safely and more live updates

About 200 couples decided to say “I do” in a special mass wedding at the Total Eclipse of the Heart festival on April 8.

The event, located in Russellville, Arkansas, allowed couples to take in the sights of the total eclipse while expressing their love to each other. The newlyweds stared at the sky in their gowns, tuxedos and protective glasses as they celebrated their nuptials.

According to the festival’s website, the three-day event kicked off on Saturday, April 6 and included performances, panels with NASA scientists and hot air balloon rides.

Lester Holt checked in with TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Jenna Hager Bush, Carson Daly, Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones and Dylan Dreyer who were watching the eclipse from Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

“We think this was one of the best views you could’ve had in the country, “ Savannah said.

Hoda agreed, adding, “It rocked! There was a weird calm that came over the place. It got a little dark, a little cold, like you guys have been reporting. But it was such a collective moment.”

Dylan, who called herself the “nerd of the group,” said she couldn’t believe her eyes.

Al Roker popped in virtually from Dallas and playfully asked if the group was actually quiet during the event.

“For about two minutes Al,” Hoda proudly responded.

Savannah said she enjoyed everyone being able to appreciate the sun, moon and Earth at once.

For those looking for the right song for the solar eclipse, many turned to Bonnie Tyler’s 1983 hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”

According to Apple’s iTunes chart, it was the top downloaded song on April 8, as the eclipse’s path of totality moved across the U.S.

Tyler re-shared a Forbes article about her song from being ranked No. 2 hours before the eclipse passed over the United States.

According to Apple’s iTunes chart, people also tuned into other celestial-themed music on Monday. “Eclipse” by Pink Floyd, “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles, “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden, “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest, “Moonshadow” by Cat Stevens and “Blinded By the Light” originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen and popularized by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band also topped the list.

Spotify tells TODAY.com there will be more information on April 9 about what exactly users streamed during the eclipse but Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” was the top song added to user-generated “eclipse” playlists on the platform in the U.S. and searches for the hit were up 50% over the past week alone.

Searches for “eclipse” are up nearly 200% on Spotify in the U.S. over the past week.

The streaming giant noted that many other on-theme songs saw traffic on solar eclipse playlists — the same ones mentioned above that also saw traffic on iTunes — and the company expects to report higher traffic for those hits when data comes in on Tuesday.

Ahead of the eclipse on Monday, Tyler shared a photo of herself observing the 2017 event, glasses and all, on her social media.

“Safety first,” she captioned the photo taken by Charles Sykes.

Sorry, “General Hospital” fans, you’ll have to wait an extra day to see what your favorite Port Charles residents are up to.

The soap opera’s official X account announced that the episode scheduled for Monday, April 8 will not air due to coverage of the eclipse.

“Due to extended coverage of today’s solar eclipse, #GeneralHospital will return tomorrow, Tuesday, April 9th, with new episodes. For those in Canada, you’ll see an encore today. Thank you!” the tweet said.

The long-running series has aired weekly on ABC since 1963.

Lester Holt switched to his protective glasses watching the sky turn black when the total eclipse covered Indianapolis.

“Look at this! It’s just sliding away.” he said as he smiled at the sky.

He added, “This is magical. We are in a sea of strangers right now who are united by this moment.”

Around him, some wept and children marveled at the moon and sun, pointing out that they will not being able to witness the event again for the next 20 years.

Al Roker cheered “Oh man” as he spotted Venus and Jupiter the moment the total eclipse covered Dallas.

“Oh, my gosh!” he said as children around him screamed.

He interviewed one child who told him, “I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”

Al shared that all the clouds had parted and the sky was “crystal clear” as they enjoyed the eclipse. He also spotted a speck of red, known as a solar prominence.

He encouraged everyone to put their glasses back on as the sun moved back into full view. A band nearby started to play The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” in response.

“Look at these shadows. How beautiful they are!” he said.

As the eclipse heads into totality locals in Mazatlán, Mexico, here are some of the first views of the rare event.

“This is the first spot in North America now,” Lester Holt said on an NBC News Special Report. “You can just see that outer corona there, but that is totality in Mazatlán.”

He joked that those who were watching the eclipse from the beaches in the coastal city would have to pause their sunbathing momentarily.

TODAY’s Al Roker is stationed in Dallas where he shared a quick weather update during an NBC News Special Report about the event.

Al explained that one effect of the eclipse is that temperatures could drop “anywhere between 10 to 15 degrees” suddenly as clouds cover the sky.

He also said those watching the eclipse might notice an immediate silence. “It might get awfully quiet. Why? Because a lot of birds, they think it’s nighttime,” he said.

Al shared another fun fact, too. He encouraged viewers to pay attention to their shadows. He said shadows will “almost become high definition” as the eclipse happens.

During the last total solar eclipse in 2017, Nia Payne gazed into the sun with glasses she didn’t know were faulty.

The 30-second event changed her life. Later that day, she noticed a black spot had formed in the middle of her left eye. Doctors eventually diagnosed her with solar retinopathy — damage to the retina caused by solar radiation.

“My eyes will never be the same,” Payne told TODAY.com at the time. Read her story here.

Plenty of people are turning out to see the eclipse. Many will feel its effects, too.

According to TODAY astrologer Lisa Stardust, this rare moment will provide an opportunity for some to close a chapter from the past.

The eclipse, which falls in the sign of Aries, will occur when Mercury and the constellation Chiron connect with the eclipse degree. Put plainly, it’s a time of hellos and goodbyes, Lisa says. So, for many, this means April 8 is the perfect moment to embrace closure and look to the future.

Aries is not the only sign that will be impacted — find out how the eclipse will affect your zodiac sign here.