M53
Globular cluster in Coma Berenices

10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC
Exposure = 5 sec, Live Stacked frames = 10, Gain = 30 of 250

M53 is a beautiful symmetric globular located relatively distant at 60,000 light years away. Overall apparent size is about 10 or so arc minutes from the looser outer edges across the more densely packed core; the core itself is 2-3 arc minutes in size. Burnham’s lists it as very rich and dense with stars and Class V of XII on a compression scale ranging from highest to lowest. M53’s proximity to the Virgo Supercluster of galaxies is quite unusual for globulars; it and neighbouring M3 herald the beginning of summer globular cluster observing.

North at 1 o’clock, East at 10 o’clock