Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Coma Berenices (Com)  ·  Contains:  M 53  ·  NGC 5024
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M53 Globular Cluster, Dale A Chamberlain
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M53 Globular Cluster, Dale A Chamberlain
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Description

Messier 53, also known as NGC 5024, is a globular cluster in the constellation of Coma Berenices. It is easily visible in binoculars as a faint glow. A telescope clearly shows the cluster brightening towards the center. M53 is one of the most distant globular clusters from Earth, lying more than 60,000 light-years away. It is a metal-poor cluster and is thought to be the most metal-poor cluster in the Milky Way. Abundance measurements of cluster members on the red giant branch show that most are first-generation stars. That is, they did not form from gas recycled from previous generations of stars. This differs from the majority of globular clusters that are more dominated by second-generation stars. The second-generation stars in NGC 5024 tend to be more concentrated in the core region. Overall, the stellar composition of cluster members is similar to members of the Milky Way halo.

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