Messier 5 (M5)

Also Known as: NGC 5904

Object Type: Globular Cluster

Constellation: Serpens

Distance from Earth: 24,500 Light years

Apparent Magnitude: 6.65

Coordinates: RA 15H 18M 33.22S DEC 02deg 04min 51.7sec

Actual Size: 165 light years in diameter.

Apparent Dimensions: 23 arc minutes.

Discovered by: Messier 5 was discovered by the German astronomer Gottfried Kirch on May 5, 1702 while observing a comet. He believed it was a star with nebulosity.
Charles Messier found the object on May 23, 1764, and described it as a nebula without stars. William Herschel resolved individual stars in 1783.

Description: Messier 5 is one of the larger globular clusters known, spanning about 165 light years in diameter.
The cluster has a tidal radius of 202 light years. Member stars are gravitationally bound to it within this space and can’t be torn away from the cluster by the gravitational pull of the Milky Way.
The cluster has an ellipsoidal rather than spherical shape. It is receding from us at about 52 km/s. The compact core region is about 6 light years in diameter, corresponding to an angular size of 0.84′.
It is the first globular cluster to be included in Messier’s catalogue. Messier 5 is home to more than 100,000 stars, as many as 500,000 according to some sources.
The brightest stars are red and yellow giant stars. It is rich, compact and significantly elliptical. At 13 billion years old, it is one of the oldest globular clusters associated with the Milky way.

Click Below Image(s) for Full Size:

With an apparent magnitude of 6.65, Messier 5 can be seen without binoculars, but only under extremely dark skies and it only appears as a faint star near the star 5 Serpentis.
Binoculars will reveal the object to not be a star, but a fuzzy patch of light, and small telescopes will show a bright glowing core.
Individual stars will only appear in larger telescopes, starting with 4-inch instruments, which reveal the cluster’s brightest stars.

The best time to observe M5 is in the months of March, April and May.

Platesolve

M5 Globular Cluster

Imaging Details
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