Class II methanol masers - Planets around an O-star

Using the A configuration of the BIMA Array with 0"4 angular resolution, ma ps were obtained of the 107-GHz methanol maser in W3(OH)-a young, massive O star with an ultracompact HII region. The 107-GHz masers have counterparts in another methanol transition, at 6.7 GHz. The strongest maser spots are unresolved with the BIMA Array, and are less than 0."15 in size, correspond ing to a lower limit for the brightness temperature of 5 x 10(5) K. A model is proposed for the class II methanol masers, in which they originate in t he extended atmospheres of icy planets orbiting the O-star exciting the ult racompact HII region W3(OH).