NGC 5053 (also GCL 23, h 1569, GC 3472) is a magnitude +9.8 globular cluster located 53,500 to 56,800 light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. Its brightest stars are magnitude +13.8 The cluster can be found less than 1.5° east of the star alpha Comae Berenices and about 1° east of M53.
NGC 5053 was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel using a 47.5 cm (18.7 inch) f/13 speculum reflector at Datchet, Berkshire, on the 14th March 1784.
It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on March 14, 1873 and catalogued as VI-7. In his abbreviated notation, he described it as, "an extremely faint cluster of extremely small stars with resolvable nebula 8 or 10' diameter, verified by a power of 240, beyond doubt". Read more
Right ascension 13h 16m 27.09s, Declination +17° 42' 00.9"