M53 · globular cluster
Messier 53
Messier 53 is a globular cluster in the Coma Berenices constellation.
RA13h 12m 55sDec+18° 10' 10"
Image: en:NASA , en:STScI , en:WikiSky. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Identity & coordinates
Identification
- Primary designation
- M53
- All designations
- M53 · NGC 5024
- Object type
- Globular Cluster
- Constellation
- Coma Berenices
- Best viewing
- Spring
Coordinates & physical
- Right ascension (J2000)
- 13h 12m 55s
- Declination (J2000)
- +18° 10' 10"
- Apparent magnitude (V)
- —
- Distance
- —
Visibility tonight
The science
Messier 53 is a globular cluster in the Coma Berenices constellation. It was discovered by Johann Elert Bode in 1775. M53 is one of the more outlying globular clusters, being about 60,000 light-years (18.4 kpc) light-years away from the Galactic Center, and almost the same distance from the Solar System. The cluster has a core radius (rc) of 2.18 pc, a half-light radius (rh) of 5.84 pc, and a tidal radius (rtr) of 239.9 pc.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0
References
- SIMBAD Not resolved
- NED Fetched May 8, 2026 View in NED ↗
- Wikipedia Fetched May 8, 2026 Read full article ↗
Wikipedia title resolved via designation — fell back to an alternate catalog designation.
1 merge conflict resolved
- coordinates: SIMBAD missing → NED used