M 53 and NGC 5053 in Coma Berenices.
M53 consists of several hundred thousand stars, is approximately 60,000 light-years away, has a diameter of around 200 light-years, and an incredible age of 13.2 billion years.
NGC 5053 mainly consists of old, metal-poor stars. As recently as 1995, it was considered the most metal-poor globular cluster in the Milky Way. The chemical abundances of the stars in NGC 5053 are more similar to those in the dwarf galaxy than to those in the Milky Way halo. Along with the kinematics of the globular cluster, this suggests that NGC 5053 may have been stripped from the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy. The star density is very low: 3,500 stars are spread over a diameter of about 160 light-years.There is a tidal bridge connecting M53 with NGC 5053, indicating that the two may have interacted in the past.
NGC 5053 mainly consists of old, metal-poor stars. As recently as 1995, it was considered the most metal-poor globular cluster in the Milky Way. The chemical abundances of the stars in NGC 5053 are more similar to those in the dwarf galaxy than to those in the Milky Way halo. Along with the kinematics of the globular cluster, this suggests that NGC 5053 may have been stripped from the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy. The star density is very low: 3,500 stars are spread over a diameter of about 160 light-years.There is a tidal bridge connecting M53 with NGC 5053, indicating that the two may have interacted in the past.
Image Details
| Date |
May 15, 2024 |
| LOCATion |
Hannover (Germany) |
| Sky Quality |
Bortle 5 |
| Telescope |
Skywatcher 200/1000 @750mm f/3.75 |
| Mount |
Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro |
| Main Camera |
ZWO ASI 2600 MC Pro Gain 100, Offset 18, -10° |
| Focuser |
ZWO EAF |
| Filter |
Baader UV/IR Cut |
| Exposure |
RGB: 189 × 30″ (1h 34' 30'') |
| Guiding |
ZWO ASI 120MM, PHD2 |
| Calibration |
Flats, Darks, Darkflats |
| Software |
N.I.N.A., EQMod |
| Other |
Starizona Nexus Reducer & Corrector |
| Processing | Astropixelprocessor, Photoshop, Pixinsight |
Gallery
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The Crescent Nebula
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Cave Nebula
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Lion Nebula
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IC 447
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Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
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Clamshell Nebula
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Clamshell Nebula in HOO
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The Dark Mermaid
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NGC 6914
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Bode's Galaxy
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Butterfly Nebula (IC 1318)
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Butterfly Nebula (HOO)
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NGC 7822
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Cone Nebula (RGB)
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Cone Nebula (HOO)
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Loch Ness Nebula
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Heart Nebula
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Heart & Soul Nebula
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Iris Nebula
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Horsehead Nebula
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Horsehead Nebula (SHO)
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Pinwheel Galaxy
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Elephant's Trunk Nebula
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Sh2-134 Widefield
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Flaming Star Nebula
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IC 410
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M 13
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M 38 in HaRGB
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Andromeda Galaxy
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NGC 5033 & Friends
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Orion Nebula
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Leo Triplet
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Jellyfish Nebula
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Jellyfish Nebula in HOO
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Regulus & Leo I Dwarf Galaxy
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Sh2-86
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M 3
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h and χ Persei (HaRGB)
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h and χ Persei (RGB)
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VDB 14 & 15
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Northamerica Nebula
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M 106
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NGC 188
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Tulip Nebula
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Markarian's Chain
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Wizard Nebula
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Bubble & Lobster Claw Nebula
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Copernicus
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M 35 & NGC 2158
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Mare Imbrium
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M 44
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M 53 & NGC 5053
