Messier 56 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Lyra. It is approximately 32,000 light-years away from Earth and contains hundreds of thousands of stars, tightly packed together. This cluster is about 85 light-years in diameter and is estimated to be around 13.7 billion years old, making it one of the older star clusters in our galaxy. Discovered by Johann Elert Bode in 1779, Messier 56 was later included in the Messier catalog by Charles Messier in 1781. It is best observed with telescopes, appearing as a fuzzy patch of light in the night sky. The cluster is a popular target for amateur astronomers.