Messier 53

by Sven Arnold

Objects in field: M 53, NGC 4978, NGC 5024, NGC 5053, IC 858, IC 859, 42 alf Com, 42 Com), Diadem, The star Diadem (α Com

Equipment: Askar FRA500, Canon EOS 6D

Integration: 14h 3m

Messier 53 (M53) is a globular star cluster located in the constellation Coma Berenices, about 58,000 light-years from Earth and roughly 60,000 light-years from the galactic center. It is one of the more remote globular clusters in the Milky Way halo and contains several hundred thousand stars. M53 is notable for its compact structure and high concentration of old, metal-poor stars—typical of…