It has a redshift of 1.522[2][3] and was first discovered in 1971 by astronomer Keith Peter Tritton who identified the object as ultraviolet-excessive.

[10] In April 2013, it underwent a major gamma ray outburst with its peak flux reaching values of F(> 100 MeV) > 3 x 10−6 ph cm−2 s−1.

According to Large Area Telescope observations, this emission originated beyond its broad-line region.

[12] In August 2022, it once again displayed an episode of rapid flaring activity in both gamma ray and optical bands.

[16][17] A 355-day period with high significance level is also confirmed by adopting time domain methods.