| NGC 5897 | |
| Class: | XI |
| Epoch: | J2000 |
| Constellation: | Libra |
| Ra: | [1] |
| Dist Ly: | 24.1 kly (7.4 kpc) |
| Appmag V: | 8.52 |
| Radius Arcminsec: | 6.3' x 6.3'[2] |
| Metal Fe: | -2.04 |
| Names: | GCl 33, C 1514-208 |
NGC 5897 is a globular cluster in the constellation Libra. This satellite of the Milky Way, which is quite remote (located about 41,000 light years away), has a diameter of over 170 light years. With its Shapley–Sawyer Concentration Class of XI, it has very low star density even in its center.[2]
The stars of the cluster have only 0.91% of the Sun's metallicity,[3] while the abundance of elements produced by the alpha process is roughly 5 times larger. This means that the cluster formed in a time before the galaxy formed a disk and spiral arms. However, some of the stars are apparently younger, indicating multiple star-forming epochs.
NGC 5897 has a diameter of 12.6 arcminutes and an apparent magnitude of 8.5.