Messier 5 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Serpens. It is one of the oldest known globular clusters, estimated to be around 13 billion years old. Messier 5 contains hundreds of thousands of stars, tightly packed together, and is about 24,500 light-years away from Earth. Discovered by Johann Elert Bode in 1778, Messier 5 was later cataloged by Charles Messier in 1780. It is notable for its bright core and is often studied for insights into the formation and evolution of star clusters. The cluster is best viewed with telescopes, appearing as a fuzzy ball of light in the night sky.