The asymmetries in the faint outer contours of the distant quasar IRAS 00275-2859 indicate that its host galaxy may be interacting with an unseen companion. Discovered by the IRAS satellite, this quasar is a powerful infrared source. Its infrared radiation is probably caused by a heavy shroud of interstellar dust. Young galaxies are thought to contain large amounts of gas and dust, and many power- ful, dust-shrouded quasars have been found.
Quasar PG 1613+65 also has a bright nucleus. Interaction between its host galaxy and that of IRAS 00275-2859 may have triggered the quasar activity.
The third quasar in this image, Markarian 231, is a Seyfert galaxy.
