The radio and optical properties of the BL Lac object PKS 0521 – 36

The radio source PKS 0521-36 has an optically variable continuum which has resulted in its classification as a BL Lac object. The spectrum does, however, contain diluted stellar absorption features and weak emission lines which agree to give a redshift of 0.005. From the nature of the emission spectrum it is probable that the galaxy contains at least 10/sup 5/M(.) of ionized gas. New radio observations with the VLA and an optical photograph are presented, both of which reveal the presence of extended structure, a resolved radio source of undetermined nature and an optical jet. These two different extended structures are not spatially coincident. (18 refs).