Messier Catalog » M5 — NGC 5904

Globular Cluster in Serpens Caput

M5, the rose cluster, framed with nearby variable binary 5 Ser.
M5 and 5Ser

M5, the rose cluster, framed with nearby variable binary 5 Ser.

'My friend, I don't always photograph stars, but when I do, I prefer globular clusters.' M5 is a top favorite of mine (M13 holds the #1 spot) and I was excited to image it at 1650mm focal length. You can count the stars! (When William Herschel did it in 1791, he counted 200).
M5

'My friend, I don't always photograph stars, but when I do, I prefer globular clusters.' M5 is a top favorite of mine (M13 holds the #1 spot) and I was excited to image it at 1650mm focal length. You can count the stars! (When William Herschel did it in 1791, he counted 200).

Low in the horizon this time of year lurks a star cluster filled with variable stars that cycle their magnitude over time. I didn't stay long, but this single 5-minute exposure was all I needed to capture Messier 5.
The Variable Magnitude M5

Low in the horizon this time of year lurks a star cluster filled with variable stars that cycle their magnitude over time. I didn't stay long, but this single 5-minute exposure was all I needed to capture Messier 5.

 
RA

15h 18.6m

Dec

2°5

Magnitude

5.6 ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫

Size

17.4

Distance

24,500 light years

Season

☀ Summer

Difficulty

✅ Very Easy

 
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