Messier 53 (also known as NGC 5024) is a globular cluster in the Coma Berenices constellation. It was discovered by Johann Elert Bode in 1775. M53 is one of the more outlying globular clusters, being about 60,000 light-years away from the Galactic Centre, and almost the same distance (about 58,000 light-years) from the Solar system.