M53
A rich globular cluster which forms a pair with the more unusual NGC5053. M53 lies about 1 degree northwest of the binary star Alpha Comae.
Globular star cluster M53 is one of the more outlying globulars, being about 60,000 light years away from the Galactic center, and slightly more (about 62,600 light years) from out Solar system. At this distance, its apparent angular diameter of 14' corresponds to a linear diameter of over 250 light years. It is rapidly approaching us at 112 km/s. M53 has a bright nucleus about 2' in diameter and a gradually decreasing density profile. Messier found it resembles M79, while William Herschel found it similar to M10.