Messier 53

Discovered on February 3, 1775 by Johann Elert Bode.
Independently rediscovered on February 26, 1777 by Charles Messier.

Messier: M53.

February 26, 1777. 53. 13h 02m 02s (195d 30' 26") +19d 22' 44"
"Nebula without stars discovered below & near Coma Berenices, a little distant from the star 42 in that constellation, according to Flamsteed. This nebula is round and conspicuous. The Comet of 1779 was compared directly with this nebula, & M. Messier has reported it on the chart of that comet, which will be included in the volume of the Academy for 1779. Observed again April 13, 1781: It resembles the nebula which is below Lepus [M79]."

Bode: Bode 26.

A rather conspicuous nebula.
"On February 3, 1775, early in the morning, I discovered a nebula north of the star Epsilon or Vindemiatrix at the northern wing of Virgo, about 1 deg east of the 42nd star of Coma Berenices, which appears through the telescope rather vivid and of round shape. The 11th figure shows its position relative to the 42nd star abd some smaller ones which don't appear in the sky charts, between which several separations have been measured."

William Herschel

[PT 1784 p. 441, SP1 p. 159]
Again, No. 53 [of Messier's Catalog]. "Nébuleause sans étoiles, decouverte au-dessous et près de la chevalure de Bérénice, à peu de distance de l'étoile quarante-deuxieme de cette constellation, suivant Flamsteed. Cette nébuleuse est ronde et apparente &c. [Nebula without stars discovered below & near Coma Berenices, a little distant from the star 42 in that constellation, according to Flamsteed. This nebula is round and conspicuous, &c.]" My observation of the 170th Sweep runs thus: A cluster of very close stars; one of the most beautiful objects I remember to have seen in the heavens. The cluster appears under the form of a solid ball, consisting of small stars, quite compressed into one blaze of light, with a great number of loose ones surrounding it, and distinctly visible in the general mass. See fig. 2.

[PT 1814 p. 277, SP2 p. 537]
[Jan. 13, 1806?] 7 feet telescope, space penetrating power 20.25. "The 53d of the Connoiss [M 53 = NGC 5024] with 118 is easily resolvable, and some of the stars may be seen."
It will not be necessary to add that the two last mentioned globular clusters [M19 and M53], viewed with more powerful instruments, are of equal beauty with the rest; and from what has been said it is obvious that here the exertion of a clustering power has brought the accumulation and artificial construction of these wonderful celestial objects to the highest degree of mysterious perfection.

[PT 1818 p. 444, SP2 p. 598]
The 53rd of the Connoissance. [M 53 = NGC 5024]
"1813, 7 feet finder. It appears like a very small haziness."
"1783, 7 feet telescope. With 460 the object is extremely faint. 1813, with 118 it is easily resolvable, and some of the stars may be seen."
"1783, 10 feet telescope. With 250, I perceive 4 or 5 places that seem to consist of very small stars."
"1784, 1786, 20 feet telescope. A globular cluster of very compressed stars."
From the observation of the 7 feet telescope, it appears that the profundity of this cluster is of the 243d order.

John Herschel (1833): h 1558.

h 1558 = M53.
Sweep 25 (May 6, 1826)
RA 13h 4m 32.3s, NPD 70d 55' 26" (1830.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
A most beautiful highly compressed cluster. Stars very small, 12...20m; with sc st to a considerable dist; irreg R, but not globular. Comes up to a blaze in the centre; indicating a round mass of pretty equable density.
A most beautiful highly compressed cluster. Stars very small, 12 to 20m; with scattered stars to a considerable distance; irregularly round, but not globular. Comes up to a blaze in the center; indicating a round mass of pretty equable density.

Sweep 26 (May 7, 1826)
RA 13h 4m 33.4s, NPD 70d 55' 38" (1830.0)
extremely compressed. A most beautiful object.

Sweep 63 (March 25, 1827)
RA 13h 4m 33.5s, NPD 70d 55' 32" (1830.0)
Seen by Mr. Baily. A fine compressed cluster, with curved appendages like the short claws of a crab running out from the main body.

Sweep 61 (March 23, 1827)
RA 13h 4m 34.6s, NPD 70d 55' 6" (1830.0)
A mass of close-wedged stars 5' in diam; a few = 12m, the rest of the smallest size and innumerable.
A mass of close-wedged stars 5' in diameter; a few of 12m, the rest of the smallest size [faintest magnitude] and innumerable.

Sweep 62 (March 24, 1827)
RA 13h 4m 35.1s, NPD 70d 55' 33" (1830.0)
Observed with Mr. Baily.

Sweep 334 (March 17, 1831)
Viewed. A most beautiful cluster.

Smyth: CCCCLXXIV [474]. M53.

CCCCLXXIV. 53 M. Comae Berenices.
AR 13h 05m 03s, Dec N 19d 01'.3
Mean Epoch of Observation: 1835.41 [April 1835]
A globular cluster, between Berenice's tresses and the Virgin's left hand, with a coarse pair of telescopic stars in the sf [south following, SE] quadrant, and a single one in the sp [south preceding, SW]. This is a brilliant mass of minute stars, from the 11th to the 15th magnitude, and from thence to gleams of star-dust, with stragglers to the np [north preceding, NW], and pretty diffused edges. From the blaze at the centre, it is evidently a highly compressed ball of stars, whose law of aggregation into so dense and compact a mass, is utterly hidden from our imperfect senses. It was enrolled by Messier in 1774 as No. 53, and resolved into stars by Sir W. Herschel.
The contemplation of so beautiful an object, cannot but set imagination to work, though the mind may be soon lost in astonishment at the stellar dispositions of the great CREATOR and MAINTAINER. Thus, in reasoning by analogy, these compressed globes of stars confound conjectureas to the models in which the mutual attractions are prevented from causing the universal destruction of their system. Sir John Herschel thinks, that no pressure can be propagatedthrough a cluster of discrete stars; whence it would follow, that the permanenceof its form must be maintained in a way totally different from that which our reasonings suggest.
Before quitting this interestiong ball of innumerable worlds, I may mention that it was examined by Sir John Herschel, with Mr. Baily, in the 20-foot reflector; and that powerful instrument showed the cluster with curved appendages of stars, like the short claws of a crab running out from the main body. A line through Delta and Epsilon Virginis, northward, meeting another drawn from Arcturus to Eta Bootis, unite upon this wonderful assemblage; or it is also easily found by its being about 1deg northeast of 42 Comae Berenices, the alignment of which is already given [Smyth's No. CCCCLXXI (471)].

John Herschel, General Catalogue: GC 3453.

GC 3453 = h 1558 = M53.
RA 13h 6m 2.0s, NPD 71d 5' 3.0" (1860.0). [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
!; Glob. Cl.; B; vC; iR; vvmbM; st 12... 12 observations by W. & J. Herschel.
Remarkable; globular cluster; bright; very compressed; irregularly round; very very much brighter toward the middle; stars of 12th magnitude and fainter.

Dreyer: NGC 5024.

NGC 5024 = GC 3453 = h 1558; M 53.
RA 13h 6m 4s, NPD 71d 5.3' (1860.0). [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
!, Glob. Cl., B, vC, iR, vvmbM, st 12; = M53
Remarkable, globular cluster, bright, very compressed, irregularly round, very very much brighter toward the middle, stars of 12th magnitude.

Curtis

[Descriptions of 762 Nebulae and Clusters photographed with the Crossley Reflector. Publ. Lick Obs., No. 13, Part I, p. 9-42]
NGC 5024, RA=13: 8.0, Dec=+18:42. A fine, bright globular cluster 10' in diameter. M. 53. 19 s.n.