M53 Gloular Cluster
Magnitude: 8.3
Distance: Aprox: 58,000 light-years
Constellation: Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair)
Star Count: Aprox 500,000
Diameter: 220 light-years
M53 is approaching us at 112 km/s. The bright, compact central region of the cluster is about 2 arc minutes in diameter. Messier 53 is relatively easy to find as it lies in the same area of the sky as Arcturus, the fourth brightest star in the sky. Arcturus can be easily found by following the line formed by the three bright stars of the Big Dipper‘s handle. Arcturus is the first bright star that appears along the imaginary line. The best time of year to observe M53 is in the months of March, April and May.
NGC 5053 Gloular Cluster
Magnitude: 9.96
Distance: Aprox: 57 thousand light-years
Constellation: Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair)
A small barred Magellanic type spiral or irregular galaxy NGC 3109 is believed to be tidally interacting with the dwarf elliptical galaxy Antlia Dwarf. It was discovered by John Herschel on March 24, 1835 while he was in what is now South Africa.
Taken 3/17/10 in Pioneer Ohio by Russell Kille on a CPC 1100 with Hyperstar @ F2 and ZWO ASI294MC Pro camera