  We present a deep, wide-field photometric survey of the newly-discovered
Hercules dwarf spheroidal galaxy, based on data from the Large Binocular
Telescope. Images in B, V and r were obtained with the Large Binocular Camera
covering a 23' times 23' field of view to a magnitude of ~25.5 (5 sigma). This
permitted the construction of colour-magnitude diagrams that reach
approximately 1.5 magnitudes below the Hercules main sequence turnoff.
Three-filter photometry allowed us to preferentially select probable Hercules
member stars, and examine the structure of this system at a previously
unattained level. We find that the Hercules dwarf is highly elongated (3:1),
considerably more so than any other dSph satellite of the Milky Way except the
disrupting Sagittarius dwarf. While we cannot rule out that the unusual
structure is intrinsic to Hercules as an equilibrium system, our results
suggest tidal disruption as a likely cause of this highly elliptical structure.
Given the relatively large Galactocentric distance of this system (132 +/- 12
kpc), signs of tidal disruption would require the Hercules dwarf to be on a
highly eccentric orbit around the Milky Way.
