HUBBLE-SPACE-TELESCOPE AND MERLIN OBSERVATIONS OF THE JET IN 3C-273

We present red and blue images of the jet of the quasar 3C 273 obtaine d with the WFPC2 on the Hubble Space Telescope as well as a new radio map made with the MERLIN array. The images are of significantly better quality than those of previous data. The two maps are aligned to an a ccuracy of 0''.020; this accuracy is achieved because both the quasar and the jet are contained in both the radio and optical images. The st art of the optical jet is marked by an elongated knot which appears id entical at radio and optical wavelengths. Other knots in the optical j et correspond to narrow oblique features within the radio outline. The total width of the smooth emission in the optical jet is 0''.7; the F WHM of the optical knots is 0''.3. The knots may trace the current loc ation of a narrow, perhaps helical jet lying within the outlines of th e older radio cocoon.