Messier 53

Messier 53 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Coma Berencies. This past spring was the first time I’ve ever taken the opportunity to image a globular cluster and I was very excited to capture not just M53, but also a second nearby cluster called NGC 5053. 

These objects are absolutely fascinating to me because they are literally some of the oldest objects in our galaxy, and in some estimates older. They are old, old stars and often metal poor and are tightly bound by their collective gravity and numbers. Being metal poor is an indicator they formed early in the universe’s history. As we move into “galaxy season”, globular clusters are more visible as they are more commonly found in the galactic halo.

Additional cool note, in the upper right of the annotated image you will see IC 858 and IC 859. Those are two galaxies with 858 being a lenticular galaxy that is roughly 306 – 372 million lightyears away.

Learn more: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_53

This image combines the regular broadband LRGB filters with an integration time around 10 hours of integration time.