3C 254: The alignment effect and unification schemes

3C 254 is a radio-loud quasar at z=0.734. Optical line and continuum emission from the underlying galaxy is clearly extended and aligned with the radio axis; the object shows the so-called 'alignment effect' which is often seen in powerful radio galaxies, This is the dearest case yet of the continuum alignment effect in a radio-loud quasar, The object is one of the most lobe-dominated 3C quasars, the significance of the aligned emission in this source is discussed in terms of orientation-based unification schemes for radio-loud quasars and radio galaxies. 3C 254 is a very asymmetric radio source and it is shown that the radio structure on the side with the shortest nucleus-hotspot distance is interacting with the emission-line gas surrounding the quasar. It is also shown that the quasar is surrounded by an overdensity of faint objects, consistent with a cluster or group of galaxies around the object.