Rare comet visible in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut this month. Here’s how to see it.

Rare comet visible in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut this month. Here’s how to see it.

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NEW YORK — The northern lights captivated countless people across the Tri-State Area this week, but Mother Nature isn’t finished showing off yet. 

If you’re lucky, experts say you might be able to spot a comet that hasn’t been seen from Earth in 80,000 years in the Tri-State Area this month.

How to see the comet

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

“You really want to wait for the sun to set, but not long after,” said Bart Fried, membership chairman of the Amateur Astronomers Association.

Your best chance at the possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will come 30 minutes after sunset if you look right above where the sun sets, according to Fried. 

Many people in the Tri-State Area were able to get a glimpse of the comet Saturday night.

Depending on cloud cover, you may be able to see the comet again next week, but with each passing day, it will get higher in the sky and become dimmer, making it more difficult to view.

The CCNY Planetarium created a simulation to show the comet’s position. 

“The formal name is C-2023A3,” said Dr. James Hedberg, the planetarium’s director. “It’s thought to have originated in the ort cloud, which is this distant collection of rocks and ice, way, way far away.” 

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

Why are comets so rare? 

There’s no guarantee the comet will ever make its way back close enough to Earth to see again, according to Hedberg. 

“It’s these rare moments that change your lives,” he said. “This thing has spent tens of thousands of years getting here.” 

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

Jackie Faherty, senior research scientist at the American Museum of Natural History, explains why seeing a comet like this is so rare. 

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

The comet is nothing to be worried about, experts say, since it’s so far away from Earth. So enjoy the show in the sky! 

Alecia Reid

contributed to this report.

John Dias

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John graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University at Albany with dual majors in journalism and communication. He also minored in political science. During his senior year, he juggled both classes and a full-time job as a web producer for News10 ABC in Albany, New York.


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October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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This month, we look at local resources for education and support for breast cancer patients and survivors.

This year, in light of an unfortunate slow but steady uptick in breast cancer diagnoses, we seek to bring attention back to the month long observance of breast cancer awareness. Breast Cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in women, and was responsible for over 55,000 deaths in the united states in 2023.   Men are also diagnosed in one out of every hundred cases, with a proportional fatality rate.  It is difficult for those diagnosed, as well as their families and friends, to cope with this frightening, life changing illness. We wanted to share educational and health resources, as well as local charity events and ways to contribute in the community in support of those fighting this chronic illness.

  • The national Center for Disease Control (CDC) offers a helpful educational guide on cancer symptoms, treatments and screenings, and more.  This can be useful as a starting point alongside conversation with your Doctor.
  • This page from the American Cancer Association also highlights different types of treatments and the steps for each type of treatment.
  • The Boston Public Health Commission’s Pink and Black Campaign is an ongoing education and advocacy movement aimed at supporting ethnic minorities and female survivors of breast cancer.   The page linked offers numerous resources and statistics to explore.
  • The Cancer Support Community of Massachusetts offers a help line, as well as digital support and wellness groups for survivor, families, and caregivers, as well as bereavement groups for those that have lost a loved one.
  • The Ellie Fund is a Needham based charity that offers information and support for those struggling with a Breast Cancer diagnosis.  Be sure to check their events calendar for 2024 and beyond for community events donation .
  • The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition is a local nonprofit dedicated to education and prevention-based advocacy.   They offer their own educational resources, web based and in person events and volunteer opportunities.
  • There are more Breast Cancer Awareness events occurring in the Boston area, including fundraisers, networking events, dances and social activities, and more.

For breast cancer treatment and screening, listed below are several major hospital services in the greater Boston area:

Have a safe and healthy month, please reach out to us at the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) if you have any additional resources or events you would like us to feature here for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.


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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s a trigger — 31 days in the fall of pink-ribbon reminders of a disease that forever changed them. For others, it’s a chance to show their support for the more than 2 million women around the world who are diagnosed with the disease each year. Understanding the goals behind the global campaign and the emotions felt by the many different people living with the disease may help you decide if and how you want to commemorate the month.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an international health campaign that’s held every October. The month aims to promote screening and prevention of the disease, which affects 2.3 million women worldwide. Known best for its pink theme color, the month features a number of campaigns and programs — conducted by groups ranging from breast cancer advocacy organizations to local community organizations to major retailers — aimed at: supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer, including those with metastatic breast cancer educating people about breast cancer risk factors encouraging women to go for regular breast cancer screening starting at age 40 or earlier, depending on personal breast cancer risk fundraising for breast cancer research.

In the month of October, there are also specific dates designed to raise awareness of specific groups within the breast cancer community.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day (October 13)
October 13 is nationally recognized in the U.S. as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. About 168,000 women in the U.S. are estimated to have metastatic breast cancer (cancer that spreads beyond the breast to other parts of the body). Researchers estimate that about 30% of early-stage breast cancers eventually metastasize. The day, which began in 2009, is meant to educate the public about the need for more money to go to the study of metastatic breast cancer and the development of new metastatic cancer treatments.

Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week (October 17–23)
Although breast cancer is much more common in women, breast cancer affects men, too. In 2021, President Joe Biden designated October 17 to October 23 Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week. According to the American Cancer Society, 2,790 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, and about 530 are expected to die from the disease.

The history of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The event began in 1985 as a week-long awareness campaign by the American Cancer Society, in partnership with Imperial Chemical Industries, a British company that made tamoxifen. The campaign eventually grew into a month-long event.

In 1992, the pink ribbon came into play after Alexandra Penney, SELF magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, partnered with Evelyn Lauder, Estée Lauder’s Senior Corporate Vice President and a breast cancer survivor, to distribute pink ribbons after the magazine’s second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month issue.

Other variations of the pink ribbon have emerged in recent years to raise awareness that all people with breast cancer are not the same. These include ribbons for raising awareness about metastatic breast cancer, men with breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, and more.

Source: Breastcancer.org


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