# Messier 5

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Globular cluster in the constellation Serpens

Messier 5 Globular cluster Messier 5 and the bright star 5 Serpentis below it Observation data (J2000 epoch) Class V[1] Constellation Serpens Right ascension 15h 18m 33.22s[2] Declination +02° 04′ 51.7″[2] Distance 24.5 kly (7.5 kpc)[3] Apparent magnitude (V) 5.6[4] Apparent dimensions (V) 23′.0 Physical characteristics Mass 8.57×105[5] M☉ Radius 80 ly Metallicity [Fe/H] = –1.12[6] dex Estimated age 10.62 Gyr[6] Other designations NGC 5904, GCl 34[7] See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters

**Messier 5** or **M5** (also designated **NGC 5904**) is a [globular cluster](/source/Globular_cluster) in the [constellation](/source/Constellation) [Serpens](/source/Serpens). It was discovered by [Gottfried Kirch](/source/Gottfried_Kirch) in 1702.

## Discovery and visibility

M5 is, under extremely good conditions, just visible to the naked eye as a faint "star" 0.37 of a degree (22' ([arcmin](/source/Arcmin))) north-west of [star](/source/Star) [5 Serpentis](/source/5_Serpentis). [Binoculars](/source/Binoculars) and/or small [telescopes](/source/Telescope) resolve the object as non-stellar; larger telescopes will show some individual stars, some of which are as bright as [apparent magnitude](/source/Apparent_magnitude) 10.6.[8] M5 was discovered by German astronomer [Gottfried Kirch](/source/Gottfried_Kirch) in 1702 when he was observing a [comet](/source/Comet). [Charles Messier](/source/Charles_Messier) noted it in 1764 and—a studier of comets—cast it as one of his nebulae. [William Herschel](/source/William_Herschel) was the first to resolve individual stars in the cluster in 1791, counting roughly 200.[9] Messier 5 is receding from the Solar System at a speed over 50 km/s.[10]

## Notable features

Within M5, there are 105 known [variable stars](/source/Variable_star), 97 of them belonging to the [RR Lyrae](/source/RR_Lyrae_variable) type.[11] RR Lyrae stars, sometimes referred to as *"Cluster Variables"*, are somewhat similar to [Cepheid type variables](/source/Cepheid_variable) and as such can be used as a tool to measure distances in outer space since the relation between their luminosities and periods are well known. The brightest and most easily observed variable in M5 varies from magnitude 10.6 to 12.1 in a period of just under 26.5 days.[8]

The cluster contains two [millisecond pulsars](/source/Millisecond_pulsar), one of which is in a binary, allowing the [proper motion](/source/Proper_motion) of the cluster to be measured. The binary could help our understanding of [neutron degenerate matter](/source/Neutron_degenerate_matter); the current median mass, if confirmed, would exclude any "soft" [equation of state](/source/Equation_of_state) for such matter.[12] The cluster has been used to test for [magnetic dipole moments](/source/Magnetic_dipole_moment) in neutrinos, which could shed light on some hypothetical particles such as the [axion](/source/Axion).[13]

A [dwarf nova](/source/Dwarf_nova) has also been observed in this cluster.[14]

## Gallery

		- Globular cluster Messier 5 in Serpens

		- Messier 5 by [Hubble Space Telescope](/source/Hubble_Space_Telescope) – 2.85′ view

## See also

- [List of Messier objects](/source/Messier_object#Messier_objects)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-hcob849_11_1-0)** Shapley, Harlow; Sawyer, Helen B. (August 1927), "A Classification of Globular Clusters", *Harvard College Observatory Bulletin*, **849** (849): 11–14, [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1927BHarO.849...11S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1927BHarO.849...11S).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aj140_6_1830_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aj140_6_1830_2-1) Goldsbury, Ryan; et al. (December 2010), "The ACS Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters. X. New Determinations of Centers for 65 Clusters", *The Astronomical Journal*, **140** (6): 1830–1837, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1008.2755](https://arxiv.org/abs/1008.2755), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2010AJ....140.1830G](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010AJ....140.1830G), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1088/0004-6256/140/6/1830](https://doi.org/10.1088%2F0004-6256%2F140%2F6%2F1830), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [119183070](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:119183070).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-aj139_2_476_3-0)** Paust, Nathaniel E. Q.; et al. (February 2010), "The ACS Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters. VIII. Effects of Environment on Globular Cluster Global Mass Functions", *The Astronomical Journal*, **139** (2): 476–491, [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2010AJ....139..476P](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010AJ....139..476P), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1088/0004-6256/139/2/476](https://doi.org/10.1088%2F0004-6256%2F139%2F2%2F476), [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[2152/34371](https://hdl.handle.net/2152%2F34371), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [120965440](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:120965440).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Messier 5"](http://www.messier.seds.org/m/m005.html). *SEDS Messier Catalog*. Retrieved 21 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-apj742_1_51_5-0)** Boyles, J.; et al. (November 2011), "Young Radio Pulsars in Galactic Globular Clusters", *The Astrophysical Journal*, **742** (1): 51, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1108.4402](https://arxiv.org/abs/1108.4402), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2011ApJ...742...51B](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011ApJ...742...51B), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1088/0004-637X/742/1/51](https://doi.org/10.1088%2F0004-637X%2F742%2F1%2F51), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [118649860](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:118649860).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mnras404_3_1203_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mnras404_3_1203_6-1) Forbes, Duncan A.; Bridges, Terry (May 2010), "Accreted versus in situ Milky Way globular clusters", *[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society](/source/Monthly_Notices_of_the_Royal_Astronomical_Society)*, **404** (3): 1203–1214, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1001.4289](https://arxiv.org/abs/1001.4289), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2010MNRAS.404.1203F](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010MNRAS.404.1203F), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16373.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2966.2010.16373.x), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [51825384](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:51825384).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-simbad_7-0)** ["M 5"](http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=M+5). *[SIMBAD](/source/SIMBAD)*. [Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg](/source/Centre_de_donn%C3%A9es_astronomiques_de_Strasbourg). Retrieved 2006-11-15.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CouttsClement_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CouttsClement_8-1) Coutts Clement, Christine M.; Sawyer Hogg, Helen (August 1977). ["The Bright Variable Stars in Messier 5"](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1977JRASC..71..281C). *Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada*. **71**: 281. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1977JRASC..71..281C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1977JRASC..71..281C). Retrieved 1 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Herschel_9-0)** ["William Herschel's Observations of the Messier Objects"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210624091741/https://www.messier.seds.org/xtra/history/her-obsm.html). *www.messier.seds.org*. Students for the Exploration and Development of Space. Archived from [the original](https://www.messier.seds.org/xtra/history/her-obsm.html) on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Harris, William E. (1996). "A Catalog of Parameters for Globular Clusters in the Milky Way". *The Astronomical Journal*. **112**: 1487. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1996AJ....112.1487H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1996AJ....112.1487H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/118116](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F118116).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Szeidl_11-0)** Szeidl, B.; Hurta, Zs.; Jurcsik, J.; Clement, C.; Lovas, M. (2011). ["Long-term photometric monitoring of Messier 5 variables – I. Period changes of RR Lyrae stars"](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2966.2010.17815.x). *Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society*. **411** (3): 1744–1762. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1010.1115](https://arxiv.org/abs/1010.1115). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2011MNRAS.411.1744S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011MNRAS.411.1744S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17815.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2966.2010.17815.x). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [118519067](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:118519067).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Freire_12-0)** Freire, P. C. C.; Wolszczan, A.; van den Berg, M.; Hessels, J. W. T. (2008). "A Massive Neutron Star in the Globular Cluster M5". *The Astrophysical Journal*. **679** (2): 1433–1442. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[0712.3826](https://arxiv.org/abs/0712.3826). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2008ApJ...679.1433F](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008ApJ...679.1433F). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/587832](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F587832). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [118743395](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:118743395).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Viaux_13-0)** Viaux, N.; Catelan, M.; Stetson, P. B.; Raffelt, G. G.; Redondo, J.; Valcarce, A. A. R.; Weiss, A. (2013). "Particle-physics constraints from the globular cluster M5: Neutrino dipole moments". *Astronomy & Astrophysics*. **558**: A12. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1308.4627](https://arxiv.org/abs/1308.4627). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2013A&A...558A..12V](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013A&A...558A..12V). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201322004](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201322004). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [59056210](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:59056210).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Neill_14-0)** Neill, James D.; Shara, Michael M.; Caulet, Adeline; Buckley, David A.H. (June 2002). ["The first orbital period for a dwarf nova in a globular cluster: V101 in M5"](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F340469). *The Astronomical Journal*. **123** (6): 3298–3304. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[astro-ph/0203138](https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0203138). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/340469](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F340469).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Messier 5](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Messier_5).

- [SIMBAD: M5](http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/sim-id.pl?protocol=html&Ident=M5)

- [M5, SEDS Messier pages](http://www.messier.seds.org/m/m005.html)

- [M5, Galactic Globular Clusters Database page](http://gclusters.altervista.org/cluster_4.php?ggc=M+5)

- [Historic observations of M5](http://messier.seds.org/Mdes/dm005.html)

- [Image of M5 by Waid Observatory](http://www.waid-observatory.com/m005-2006-04-17.html)

- Messier 5 on [WikiSky](/source/WikiSky): [DSS2](http://www.wikisky.org/?object=Messier+5&img_source=DSS2), [SDSS](http://www.wikisky.org/?object=Messier+5&img_source=SDSS), [GALEX](http://www.wikisky.org/?object=Messier+5&img_source=GALEX), [IRAS](http://www.wikisky.org/?object=Messier+5&img_source=IRAS), [Hydrogen α](http://www.wikisky.org/?object=Messier+5&img_source=HALPHA), [X-Ray](http://www.wikisky.org/?object=Messier+5&img_source=RASS), [Astrophoto](http://www.wikisky.org/?object=Messier+5&img_source=IMG_all), [Sky Map](http://www.wikisky.org/?object=Messier+5), [Articles and images](http://www.wikisky.org/starview?object=Messier+5)

[Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals):
- [Astronomy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Astronomy)
- [Stars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Stars)
- [Outer space](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Outer_space)

v t e Astronomical catalogs Messier M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 M10 M11 M12 M13 M14 NGC NGC 5899 NGC 5900 NGC 5901 NGC 5902 NGC 5903 NGC 5904 NGC 5905 NGC 5906 NGC 5907 NGC 5908 NGC 5909

v t e Messier objects List M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 M10 M11 M12 M13 M14 M15 M16 M17 M18 M19 M20 M21 M22 M23 M24 M25 M26 M27 M28 M29 M30 M31 M32 M33 M34 M35 M36 M37 M38 M39 M40 M41 M42 M43 M44 M45 M46 M47 M48 M49 M50 M51 M52 M53 M54 M55 M56 M57 M58 M59 M60 M61 M62 M63 M64 M65 M66 M67 M68 M69 M70 M71 M72 M73 M74 M75 M76 M77 M78 M79 M80 M81 M82 M83 M84 M85 M86 M87 M88 M89 M90 M91 M92 M93 M94 M95 M96 M97 M98 M99 M100 M101 M102 M103 Added M104 M105 M106 M107 M108 M109 M110 See also Caldwell catalogue Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars Herschel 400 Catalogue Index Catalogue New General Catalogue Revised New General Catalogue Category Commons Portal

v t e New General Catalogue 5001 to 6000 5001 to 5100 5001 5002 5003 5004 5005 5008 5010 5011 5018 5020 5023 5024 5026 5030 5032 5033 5034 5042 5050 5053 5054 5055 5068 5078 5084 5085 5087 5090 5091 5098 5101 to 5200 5101 5102 5112 5114 5121 5128 5135 5139 5144 5161 5162/5174 5164 5170 5177 5185 5189 5194 5195 5198 5201 to 5300 5201 5204 5221 5223 5229 5235 5236 5238 5247 5248 5251 5252 5253 5256 5257 5258 5260 5264 5272 5273 5278 5279 5281 5286 5291 5300 5301 to 5400 5307 5308 5314 5315 5316 5322 5331 5334 5335 5343 5363 5364/5317 5371 5377 5384 5390 5394 5395 5398 5401 to 5500 5406 5408 5410 5416 5419 5422 5426 and 5427 5448 5455 5457 5460 5461 5466 5468 5470 5471 5473 5474 5475 5477 5483 5485 5486 5490 5493 5495 5500 5501 to 5600 5501 5502/5503 5504 5506 5508 5514 5516 5523 5529 5530 5532 5533 5535 5539 5541 5544 5545 5548 5557 5559 5566 5575/5578 5579 5582 5584 5585 5591 5597 5601 to 5700 5601 5605 5609 5613 5614 5615 5617 5619 5626 5629 5630 5634 5640 5641 5643 5653 5662 5665 5668 5676 5678 5679 5682 5683 5694 5701 to 5800 5701 5705 5713 5714 5719/5658 5722 5728 5746 5749 5750 5752 5753 5754 5755 5765 5772 5774 5775 5777 5778 5784 5790 5792 5793 5801 to 5900 5806 5820 5821 5822 5823 5824 5829 5837 5838 5844 5846 5850 5854 5856 5857 5861 5866 5875 5876 5879 5882 5885 5886 5890 5896 5897 5898 5901 to 6000 5904 5906 5907 5910 5915 5917 5920 5921 5925 5927 5928 5929 5930 5936 5939 5940 5949 5953 5957 5962 5963 5964 5965 5966 5970 5979 5980 5982 5985 5986 5988 5996 5999 6000 Astronomical catalog List of NGC objects 5001–6000

v t e Constellation of Serpens List of stars in Serpens Serpens–Aquila Rift Serpens in Chinese astronomy Stars Bayer α (Unukalhai) β (Zhou) γ δ ε ζ η θ (Alya) ι κ (Gudja) λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ1 τ2 τ3 τ4 τ5 τ6 τ7 τ8 υ φ χ ψ ω Flamsteed 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 (A1) 14 16 25 (A2) 29 36 (b) 39 40 43 45 46 47 59 (d) 60 (c) 61 64 Variable R W AO CT CV FH NN QZ HR 5692 6681 6993 (e) HD 136118 138573 142245 143436 168443 168746 (Alasia) 175541 (Kaveh) Other CoRoT-23 Gliese 710 MWC 922 PSR J1719−1438 PSR J1856+0245 Ross 508 SDSS 1557 W40 IRS 1A South WISEA 1810−1010 Exoplanets CoRoT-9b CoRoT-11b CoRoT-22b CoRoT-23b CoRoT-27b HD 168443 b HD 175541 b (Kavian) PSR J1719−1438 b Star clusters NGC 6535 6539 6604 6605 Other IC 4756 Messier 5 Messier 16 Palomar 5 Serpens South Nebulae Other CB 130-3 Eagle Nebula L183 Red Square Nebula Sh 2-33 Sh 2-36 Sh 2-46 Sh 2-47 Sh 2-54 Sh 2-68 Westerhout 40 Galaxies NGC 5910 5920 5921 5928 5936 5940 5953 5957 5962 5964 5970 5980 5988 5996 6008 6027 6027a 6027b 6027c 6027d 6027e 6051 6118 Other 2MFGC 12344 3C 318 3C 321 3C 323.1 3C 324 3C 326 4C +00.58 4C 10.45 4C 11.50 Arp 220 CGCG 049-033 Hoag's Object IC 4537 IC 4588 NRAO 530 PDS 456 PGC 54493 PKS 1538+149 SDSS J1536+0441 UGC 9799 WISEA J160318.98+031644.8 Galaxy clusters Seyfert's Sextet Category

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