COMET P/2006 M3 (BARNARD) 
    An apparently asteroidal object discovered by LINEAR 
(discovery observation tabulated below) has been found to be 
cometary following posting on the 'NEO Confirmation Page'.  L. 
Buzzi (Varese, Italy; 0.60-m reflector) reports that images taken 
in good seeing during June 23.97-23.99 UT showed a 6" circular coma 
with a strong central condensation.  Images from R. Salvo (Los 
Molinos, Uruguay) on June 24.2 and from J. Broughton (Reedy Creek, 
Queensland) on June 24.6 also suggest that the object is a comet. 
From a preliminary orbit computation, the undersigned suggested 
that the comet is a return of P/1889 M1 = 1889 III = 1889c 
(Barnard), for which A. Berberich (1889, A.N. 123, 77) was the 
first to compute an orbit of intermediate period (about 128 years). 
The orbital elements below are by B. G. Marsden, from observations 
1889-2006 (mean residual 0".9), with astrometry also given on MPECs 
2006-M38 and 2006-M42. 

    2006 UT             R.A. (2000) Decl.       Mag. 
    June 23.25870   17 43 38.68   -27 26 53.5   17.1 

                   Epoch = 1889 June  7.0 TT 
    T = 1889 June 21.2418 TT         Peri. =  60.1479 
    e = 0.953988                     Node  = 272.5450  2000.0 
    q = 1.102918 AU                  Incl. =  31.2189 
      a = 23.970332 AU    n = 0.0083983    P = 117.36 years 

                   Epoch = 2006 Aug. 13.0 TT 
    T = 2006 Aug. 28.6903 TT         Peri. =  60.4661 
    e = 0.954400                     Node  = 272.0666  2000.0 
    q = 1.107142 AU                  Incl. =  31.2161 
      a = 24.279424 AU    n = 0.0082385    P = 119.64 years