NGC 5286 (also known as Caldwell 84) is a globular cluster of stars located some 35,900[3] light years away in the constellation Centaurus. At this distance, the light from the cluster has undergone reddening from interstellar gas and dust equal to E(B – V) = 0.24 magnitude in the UBV photometric system. The cluster lies 4 arc-minutes north of the naked-eye star M Centauri.[6] It was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop, active in Australia, and listed in his 1827 catalog.[7]