OH masers in oxygen-rich late-type stars

Abstract

We present here some noteworthy results of two related studies on oxygen-rich late type stars. The aim of this work was to study the OH circumstellar shell properties in terms of evolution. These studies are based on an OH monitoring programme carried out with the Nançay Radio Telescope. The first study concerns seven Miras distributed along the colour-colour diagram. They were observed at two or three different epochs covering one to seven cycles over a period from 1980 to 1995 at 1612, 1667 and 1665 MHz in both circular polarizations. The second study concerns thirty objects covering a wide range of mass loss rate from Miras to OH/IR stars. They were observed in 1994 at 1665 & 1667 MHz in both circular polarizations.