Great write-up Scott. Thanks for clarifying the history and the brightness of the PN.
My question was also what aperture it takes to see the PN as a nonstellar disk. Perhaps it is not possible visually or we have to carry Barbarella at the top of Mauna Kea?
After my experiences the visibility is somewhat strange. I tried the PN intensively over years and has to admit that the classic parameter like seeing and aperture is not the only points to have success. It seems to be much more complicated.
My smallest aperture to see Pease 1 clearly was 16" but I know reliable observations with 12". Congrats that you was able to see the object with 10".
I add my very old sketch with my 16" which also shows the finding star association near the PN.
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