We have analysed new CCD UBV photometry of the Milky Way globular cluster M 79, obtained with the NTT under excellent seeing, with short exposure times. The following results have been obtained.
1. We estimate the cluster CMD parameters: its main-sequence turnoff
point is at 
, 
; the horizontal-branch
level at the blue edge of the instability strip is 
.
2. The cluster metallicity, estimated from the position of the
"bump'' on the RGB, is [Fe/H] 
.
3. We could reliably isolate AGB stars and present the AGB luminosity function.
4. We have found evidence for the HB in several clusters consisting of a number of fragments separated with depressions (gaps). In different clusters the positions of fragments are more or less reproduced, but the presence of a given fragment in a given cluster depends of the HB morphology and the length of the HB along the axis of magnitudes.
5. The isochrone analysis shows that M 79 belongs to the oldest Milky
Way globular clusters. Its age, in the scale of
Bergbusch & VandenBerg
(1992) oxygen-enhanced isochrones, is 
Gyr, and in the scale of
VandenBerg & Bell (1985) isochrones it is 
Gyr. The cluster
has an extremely blue horizontal branch at intermediate metallicity
and may be considered a good example of the "second parameter''
interpreted as age. The apparent
distance modulus of the cluster from Bergbusch and VandenBerg
isochrones is in good agreement with the value derived from the
position of the horizontal branch (
).
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to Mr. S.V. Antipin and Mr. O.M. Lahtionov for their assistance during this study.