by Jim Van Nuland
Though unsuccessful earlier, about 11 pm I was able to find Comet 2001A2 (LINEAR) from Houge Park on Friday July 27.
It was faint but readily seen by averted vision, showing about half a degree of tail. Placed nicely in a triangle of small stars, I made a crude sketch and later checked the position on Uranometria page 165. Not all the stars were plotted, so I tried Vehrenberg's photographic Falkauer Atlas; the star triangle was present, along with the other stars on my sketch. Most importantly, neither showed a other object at the comet's position.
The comet had been obvious at Coe Park on July 21.
All dates local time.