Detection of the first extra-galactic OH/IR star

A search has been made for 1612 MHz OH maser emission from OH/IR stars in the Magellanic Clouds. Candidate objects were selected mainly on the basis of their 25μm flux densities and the 25 to 12μm flux ratio as given in the IRAS point source catalog; two known long-period variables and two HII regions (30 Doradus and N159) were also examined. One OH source (IRAS 04553-6825) was detected, this being the first OH/IR star found in the Magellanic Clouds. Upper limits were placed on the flux for 17 other sources. The expansion velocity of the circumstellar material surrounding IRAS 04553-6825, as indicated by the OH peak separation of 11 km s−1, is surprisingly small compared to Galactic sources of similar bolometric and OH luminosity. The OH intensity of IRAS 04553-6825, and the upper flux limits placed on many of the other objects examined, indicate that Magellanic Cloud OH/IR stars do not emit OH as strongly as their Galactic counterparts of similar 25μm/12μm flux ratio. Both the low expansion velocity of IRAS 04553-6825 and the low OH intensity of the Magellanic Cloud infrared sources may be explained by the low metal abundance in the Clouds.