Obs. Report: Comet 177P/Barnard

Latitude: between 45 and 46 degrees North
Instrument: hand held 20x80 binoculars
Zenithal Naked-Eye Limiting Magnitude: about 6.4
Location: Northwestern U.S.

Approximate time: 4:10 UT
Date: 14 August 2006 UT

A brief dark-sky window existed this evening prior to interference
from moonlight. I observed a few Messier Objects using hand held 8x42
binoculars prior to looking for the comet. I failed to notice the
comet with the small binoculars after a brief attempt, so I brought
out the larger 20x80s.

The comet was north-northwest of Eta Herculis. It was found by first
pointing the binoculars at M13, then moving to Eta and continuing
along the same line past Eta a distance somewhat greater than the M13
to Eta distance. The comet was found a little east of that point in
the sky.

The comet showed up as a large, fuzzy, featureless disk. Apparent
size was similar to that of the much brighter globular, M13; but
overall appearance was very similar to that of M101. IIRC, the comet
appeared to be a little larger and a little fainter (or more difficult
to see) than M101.

For those with suitable instrumentation (large binoculars or a
telescope capable of relatively high-contrast, low-power views) and a
suitable sky (somewhere in the neighborhood of 6.0 ZNELM), this comet
should be a relatively easy target. I suspect it would have been
visible in my 8x42 binoculars if I had taken more time and been more
patient; but I knew the moon wasn't going to allow me much time this
evening. As I looked back and forth between the comet and M101 with
the 20x80s I glanced eastward and noticed that my eastern horizon was
already beginning to brighten due to the impending moonrise.

Willie R. Meghar