Messier 53 (M 53)

Introduction | Map | Find/Identify | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the globular star cluster M 53 (NGC 5024) in the constellation Coma Berenices. In its neighborhood, there is the globular star cluster NGC 5053 in the same constellation.

Introduction

The globular star cluster M 53 in the constellation Coma Berenices shows, according to Stoyan, the typical appearance of mayn globular star clusters: a bright light ball with increasing brightness towards the center. Only in large telescopes, M 53 can be seen as a compact star cluster rich of stars. In the eVscope, a lot of stars can be resolved.

Close (1° distance) to the globular star cluster M 53 there is the globular star cluster NGC 5053, which is relatively loose. With the Vespera (Pro) both can be photographed together.

Map

The globular star cluster M 53 in constellation Coma Berenices, as well as the galaxy M 64 and the open star cluster Mel 111 (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Find/Identify

Find/Identify: M 53 is located in constellation Coma Berenices, but is easiest to find from Arcturus in constellation Bootes (and thereby to identify):

(Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

My Best Own Photos

eVscope

M 53 - Mar 24, 2020 (shortly after midnight)		M 53 - Mar 24, 2020, processed		M 53 - Mar 24, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - May 17, 2020		M 53 - May 17, 2020, processed		M 53 - May 17, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - May 21, 2020		M 53 - May 21, 2020, processed		M 53 - May 21, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - Jun 10, 2021		M 53 - Jun 10, 2021, processed (Polarr)		M 53 - Jun 10, 2021, processed and sharpened

Vespera Pro

M 53 & NGC 5053, Jun 7, 2024 - 2000p, Mosaik (80 Frames = 800s)
M 53 & NGC 5053, Jun 7, 2024 - 3000p, mosaic (80 frames = 800s), 1:1 section		M 53 & NGC 5053, Jun 7, 2024 - 3000p, mosaic (80 frames = 800s), 1:1 section, processed

My Own Observations

Observations May 2017

• May 9, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount): M 53 a faint glow that is brighter at the center; fainter than M 3 (therefore not found on May 5, 2017)
• May 10, 2017 (ditto): Ditto
• May 14, 2017 (ditto): M 53 a glow, but quite good to see, brighter core?
• May 15, 16, 20, 2017 (ditto): Observed M 53 in my final "observation series" of globular star clusters, glow, brighter core, quite good to see

Observations June 2019

• June 4, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Skymax-127 on GoTo mount): M 53 a faint glow that is brighter at the center; smaller than M 3 and M 5

Observations March to August 2020

• March 18 (in the morning), 23, and 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 53 photographed.
• April 21, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 53 photographed.
• May 17, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 53 photographed in the new rectangular format without overlay.
• May 21, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 53 photographed (r.f., n.o.).
• June 7, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 53 photographed (r.f., n.o.), sky not optimal (Unistellar weekly challenge).
• August 8, 2020 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 53 photographed (r.f., n.o.), eVscope out of focus

Observations June 2021

• June 10, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 53 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing.

Observations June 2024

• June 7, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 53 and NGC 5053 photographed (13 min, one mosaic round)

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 53: messier.seds.org/m/m053.html
• Messier 53 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_53
• NGC 5053 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_5053

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Information (6" Newton)
• Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 OTA Information (5" Maksutov-Cassegrain)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope

M 53 - Mar 18, 2020		M 53 - Mar 18, 2020, processed		M 53 - Mar 18, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - Mar 18, 2020		M 53 - Mar 18, 2020, processed		M 53 - Mar 18, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - Mar 23, 2020		M 53 - Mar 23, 2020, processed		M 53 - Mar 23, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - Mar 23, 2020		M 53 - Mar 23, 2020, processed		M 53 - Mar 23, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - Mar 24, 2020 (shortly after midnight)		M 53 - Mar 24, 2020, processed		M 53 - Mar 24, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - Apr 21, 2020		M 53 - Apr 21, 2020, processed		M 53 - Apr 21, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - May 17, 2020		M 53 - May 17, 2020, processed		M 53 - May 17, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - May 17, 2020		M 53 - May 17, 2020, processed		M 53 - May 17, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - May 21, 2020		M 53 - May 21, 2020, processed		M 53 - May 21, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - Jun 7, 2020		M 53 - Jun 7, 2020, processed		M 53 - Jun 7, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - Aug 8, 2020, out of focus		M 53 - Aug 8, 2020, processed		M 53 - Aug 8, 2020, processed and sharpened
M 53 - Jun 10, 2021		M 53 - Jun 10, 2021, processed (Polarr)		M 53 - Jun 10, 2021, processed and sharpened

Vespera Pro

M 53 & NGC 5053, Jun 7, 2024 - 2000p, Mosaik (80 Frames = 800s)
M 53 & NGC 5053, Jun 7, 2024 - 3000p, mosaic (80 frames = 800s), 1:1 section		M 53 & NGC 5053, Jun 7, 2024 - 3000p, mosaic (80 frames = 800s), 1:1 section, processed