M53
NGC 5024
Propriétés
Position et Identifiants
Visibilité
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À propos de M53
Description
M53 is a moderately bright globular cluster in Coma Berenices, about 58,000 light-years from Earth — one of the more distant Messier globulars. It contains several hundred thousand stars in a sphere about 220 light-years across. The cluster is notable for its relatively metal-poor stars and its large distance from the galactic center.
Conseils d'Observation
Located about 1 degree northeast of Alpha Comae Berenices (Diadem). In binoculars it appears as a small, round fuzzy patch. A 4-inch telescope shows a bright, concentrated glow. Resolving individual stars requires 10 inches or more due to the cluster's great distance. The much looser globular NGC 5053 lies just 1 degree to the southeast, making an interesting comparison pair. Best observed from March through July.
Histoire
Discovered by Johann Elert Bode on February 3, 1775. Charles Messier independently found it on February 26, 1777. William Herschel was the first to resolve it into stars.
Faits Amusants
At 58,000 light-years, M53 is one of the most remote Messier globulars. Its neighbor NGC 5053, only 1 degree away in the sky, is one of the most diffuse globulars known — the contrast between the two illustrates the enormous range of globular cluster densities.
Photos de la Communauté (1)
Credit: Sloan Digital Sky Survey. License: CC BY 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Feb 28, 2026