M 53
Scientific overview
M 53 is a globular cluster in the constellation Coma Berenices. It shines at apparent magnitude 7.79 and spans about 9 arcminutes of sky.
Observation guide
Guidance follows standard observing practice, derived from the object's real magnitude and position. A dark, moonless sky always helps.
Location in the sky
Precision measurements
Distances and velocities from SIMBAD · M 53
| Radial velocity | -63.1 ± 0.2 km/s | SIMBAD · measured |
| Right ascension (ICRS) | 198.230208 deg | SIMBAD · measured |
| Declination (ICRS) | 18.168167 deg | SIMBAD · measured |
Full field-level provenance
- Radial velocity: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · rvz_radvel · 2018MNRAS.478.1520B · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
- Right ascension (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · ra · 2010AJ....140.1830G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
- Declination (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · dec · 2010AJ....140.1830G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
Physical size is derived from the OpenNGC angular size and the catalogued distance (small-angle: size = angle × distance). This is a Galactic object: its Doppler shift is shown as a radial velocity, not a cosmological redshift. Fields a source did not provide are omitted, never invented.
Other objects in Coma Berenices
| Object | Type | Mag | Size (′) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Eye GalaxyM 64 · NGC 4826 | Barred spiral galaxy | 8.52 | 10.52 |
| M 85M 85 · NGC 4382 | Lenticular galaxy | 9.05 | 6.95 |
| NGC 4725NGC 4725 | Barred spiral galaxy | 9.38 | 9.71 |
| M 100M 100 · NGC 4321 | Barred spiral galaxy | 9.47 | 6.1 |
| NGC 4494NGC 4494 | Elliptical galaxy | 9.8 | 4.35 |
| Coma PinwheelM 99 · NGC 4254 | Spiral galaxy | 9.84 | 5.04 |
| NGC 4559C 36 · NGC 4559 | Spiral galaxy | 9.92 | 10.57 |
| NGC 5053NGC 5053 | Globular cluster | 9.96 | 4.8 |
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- OpenNGCOpenNGC (M. Verga) — NGC/IC, Messier, and Caldwell catalogue data
Openly-licensed deep-sky catalogue: object types, positions, magnitudes, sizes, morphology, and cross-identifiers.