A once-in-a-lifetime nova will appear in Earth’s sky. Here’s how to find out.

A rare nova explosion will soon be visible in Earth’s night sky, according to NASA officials.

The event, which could happen anytime between now and September, is causing a stir in the astronomy community as both professional and amateur astronomers will be able to see the explosion.

“We’re definitely seeing a lot of excitement as sky watchers anticipate the supposed nova,” Claire Andreoli, communications manager for astrophysics at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, told Yahoo News. “It’s rare that we have the opportunity to witness something like this with our own eyes, which definitely adds to the excitement.”

🌟 What causes a star to become a nova?

T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), nicknamed the Blaze Star, is located 3,000 light-years from Earth and is a binary star system in the constellation Coronae Borealis (or “Northern Crown”).

In this binary system, a white dwarf (a dead star) and an ancient red giant (a slowly dying star) are gravitationally bound together. Every 80 years or so, the hydrogen from the red giant fuses with the white dwarf’s surface, causing pressure and heat to build up, resulting in a thermonuclear explosion – causing the system to go nova.

The last time a nova T CrB was seen from Earth was in 1946.

💥 What is the difference between a nova and a supernova?

A nova is an astronomical event in which a star experiences a sudden and dramatic increase in brightness—sometimes up to 100,000 times its normal level.

This results in a “new” star (“nova” being the Latin word for “new”) appearing in the night sky, which slowly fades over weeks or months.

A nova differs from a supernova in that during a nova the star flares up and then returns to dormancy. In a supernova, the star is completely destroyed.

“T CrB is a once-in-a-lifetime event,” Dr. Rebekah Hounsell, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “This event will inspire a new generation of astronomers because anyone can participate in observing this amazing astronomical event.”

📍How to find T Coronae Borealis in the night sky

When T CrB goes nova, it will be visible to the naked eye for about a week.

To see it, first look for the constellation Hercules, then look west to the Northern Corolla, a horseshoe-shaped curve of stars.

“[The Northern Crown] can be identified by locating the two brightest stars in the northern hemisphere—Arcturus and Vega—and tracing a straight line from one to the other that takes sky watchers to Hercules and Corona Borealis,” NASA says on its website.

“It will be a transient event and it can be difficult to detect,” Andreoli told Yahoo News.

“We’re really trying to manage expectations and give people as much information as possible so they’re hopefully ready to witness this unique space spectacle.”

💡How to best view the nova

• Away from light pollution. Light pollution is scattered light from parking lots, sports grounds, street lights and other human activity that manifests as a glow in the night sky. For darker skies, head at least 20 to 30 miles from city limits, NASA advises.

• Check the weather forecast. Make sure it is a clear, cloudless night with good visibility (low dust and humidity). Websites like Good to Stargaze can tell you if the forecast for your location is favorable for stargazing.

• Use a constellation app or a planisphere. Apps like Sky Guide use AR technology to turn your phone into a map to the stars. For those who prefer a hands-on guide, a planisphere can help find the constellation Hercules.