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 globular clusters. These stars are over 12 billion years old, offering a glimpse into the early formation of the galaxy. Despite its distance, M53 is relatively bright (magnitude 7.7) and can be spotted with small telescopes.

A smaller, nearby cluster—NGC 5053—may be gravitationally associated with M53, suggesting a possible shared history or interaction. M53 serves as an important object for studying the dynamics, chemical composition, and evolution of globular clusters in the Milky Way.

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