The relative positions of the OH and H2O masers in W49N and W3/OH/

Abstract

The relative positions of the OH and H2O masers in W49N and W3(OH) have been found by simultaneously observing both masering transitions with a very-long-baseline interferometer. In both sources, the OH and H2O features are clearly separated and occupy two distinct regions of space, separated by 48,000 AU and 18,000 AU in W49N and W3(OH), respectively. The two masering regions appear unlikely to have the same source of excitation.