M5

globular cluster · in Serpens

24,400 light-years from Earth

Gottfried Kirch and Maria Margarethe Kirch first saw it in 1702 while watching a comet. William Herschel first made out its stars in 1791 and counted about 200.

• 24,400 light-years · about 165 light-years across
• over 120 RR Lyrae variable stars

kind

nebula · star cluster

catalogue

M5 · NGC 5904

size

165 light-years across