M5 | NGC 5904 | Globular Cluster | Serpens | 24,000 Light Years Away
Messier 5 is a splendid globular cluster located in the constellation Serpens. Discovered by German astronomer Gottfried Kirch in 1702, it was later cataloged by Charles Messier in 1764. Positioned about 24,500 light-years away from Earth, Messier 5 is one of the oldest known globular clusters, estimated to be around 13 billion years old. This stellar assembly is characterized by its densely packed core and an outer region that is sparser, containing hundreds of thousands of stars gravitationally bound together.
The stars within Messier 5 exhibit a rich variety of colors, indicative of differences in temperature and composition. This globular cluster has a diameter of about 165 light-years, making it one of the largest known globular clusters in our Milky Way galaxy. Messier 5’s central core is especially dense, with stars crowded closely together, creating a luminous and captivating center that can be observed from Earth with binoculars or telescopes.
Astronomers have extensively studied Messier 5 to glean insights into the early stages of galaxy formation and the dynamics of densely packed stellar systems. The cluster’s age and composition contribute valuable information to our understanding of stellar evolution and the broader processes that have shaped the structure of galaxies over cosmic time. Observations of Messier 5 across different wavelengths provide a comprehensive view of its stellar population, aiding astronomers in unraveling the mysteries of these ancient celestial communities within our vast and evolving universe.