The proper motions of the H2O masers near W3(OH)

Abstract

We describe the results of three-epoch intercontinental VLBI observations of the 22 GHz H2O masers near the compact H II region W3(OH). We have determined the relative proper motions of individual maser components. Assuming a distance to the source of 2.2 kpc, we are able to obtain a full 3D description of the kinematics of the emitting region, which indicates that the H2O masers are part of bipolar outflow. (Author (revised))