Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Coma Berenices (Com)  ·  Contains:  M 53  ·  NGC 5024  ·  NGC 5053
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M53-NGC5053, Wayne H
M53-NGC5053
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M53-NGC5053

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M53-NGC5053, Wayne H
M53-NGC5053
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M53-NGC5053

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Description

M53 and M5053 comprise what is suspected to be the only binary globular in the Milky Way. M53 (the brighter object) is west of M3 in Coma Berenices (Berenice's hair) and was discovered in 1775. It's partner is NGC5053, more diffuse and much dimmer, with no bright core typical of other globulars. There is debris stretching from NGC5053 towards M53, proving their close relationship. Like m3, M53 also contains an estimated 500,000 stars but is far more distant at 60,000 light years from Earth and from the galactic plane.

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M53-NGC5053, Wayne H