The periodic comet 177P/2006 M3 (Barnard 2) was recently recovered after a span of well over a hundred years. It is currently visible in binoculars in the constellation of Hercules and is shining at a magnitude of 8.4 as it heads towards Draco. This comet has a large 10′ coma and is fairly diffuse due to its proximity to the Earth.

A finder chart is posted at http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets/177P.gif

UPDATE: Aug. 2,2006
Gail and I searched for the comet, last night, to no avail. We both thought we might have, maybe, almost detected a smudge with our 10×50 binoculars but were unsuccessful with a low-power search using our 6″ reflector. Other reports have suggested it is very diffuse and the current heat haze doesn’t help, either. Still, we know where it should be so we’ll keep looking and maybe it’ll brighten.