NGC 5986 is a globular cluster of stars in the southern constellation of Lupus, located at a distance of approximately 34 kilolight-years from the Sun.

John L. E. Dreyer described it as, "a remarkable object, a globular cluster, very bright, large, round, very gradually brighter middle, stars of 13th to 15th magnitude".

[8] Its prograde–retrograde orbit through the Milky Way galaxy is considered irregular and highly eccentric.

[4] The galacto-centric distance is 17 kly (5.2 kpc), which puts it in the galaxy's inner halo.

[11] It may have at least 4–5 different stellar populations with distinct elemental compositions, and there is evidence that it has lost ~60–80% of its original mass.