M53 (lower left) is one of the more distant globular clusters, at about 58,000 light years from Earth. It is about 220 light years in diameter.

NGC5053 (upper right, about one degree distant from M53) is a much fainter globular cluster that is actually slightly closer to us than M53 (53,500 light years). NGC5053 lacks a bright central core but its classification as a globular cluster has been confirmed.