Rare comet could be visible in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut this evening. Here's where to look.

NEW YORK — The Northern lights fascinated countless people throughout the Tri-State area this week, but Mother Nature isn't done showing off just yet.

Experts say if you're lucky, you might spot a comet that hasn't been seen from Earth in 80,000 years in the Tri-State Area on Friday and Saturday.

This is how you see the comet

In New York, New Jersey and Connecticut you need a clear view to the west to see the comet with the naked eye.

“You really want to wait until the sun goes down, but not long after,” said Bart Fried, membership president of the Amateur Astronomers Association.

According to Fried, the best chance at what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is 30 minutes after sunset, when you look directly over where the sun is setting.

The best visibility is expected on Saturday evening. Depending on cloud cover, you may be able to see the comet again next week.

“The Neanderthals were the first people to see it,” Fried said. “Centuries ago they were portraits of doom. Today it’s exactly the opposite.”

The CCNY Planetarium created a simulation to show the comet's position as it enters and exits Earth's atmosphere.

“The official name is C-2023A3,” said Dr. James Hedberg, the director of the planetarium. “It is believed to have originated in the Ort Cloud, a collection of rocks and ice far, far away.”

Why are comets so rare?

According to Hedberg, there is no guarantee that the comet will ever get close enough to Earth to be seen again.

“It’s those rare moments that change your life,” he said. “It took this thing tens of thousands of years to get here.”

“If there’s a good comet, you can’t take your eyes off it,” Fried said.

Jackie Faherty, senior scientist at the American Museum of Natural History, explains why it is so rare to see such a comet.

“Because our solar system is pretty empty,” Faherty said. “You just don’t know if you’ll ever see one because they have to have the right conditions to get the right amount of sunlight and be at the right distance from us.”

The comet is not a cause for concern, experts say, because it is so far from Earth. So enjoy the show in the sky!