Radio Observations of Masers in Post-AGB Stars

Abstract

We present observations of 86 post-Asymptotic Giant Branch (post-AGB) stars of OH maser transitions, taken with the Parkes Telescope between September 2002 and August 2003. Post-AGB stars are the precursors of planetary nebulae, which have a wide range of morphologies that are not well explained. By studying the circumstellar envelopes of post-AGB stars through the masers produced in them, we hope to shed light on the origin of planetary nebula morphologies.

4 pages + 1 figure. To appear in "Asymmetric Planetary Nebulae III", editors M . Meixner, J.Kastner, B.Balick and N. Soker, ASP conference series