Discovery of OH and H2O masers in R Aquarii and H1-36 Arae.

We present the first results from an all-sky maser-line survey of symbiotic Miras. Interferometric spectral-line observations of R Aqr and Ht-36 have revealed a 22-0Hz water maser in the former and t612-MHz hydroxyl and weak 22-0Hz water maser emission from the latter. H1-36 has thus become the first known symbiotic OH/IR star. We have also detected weak OH line emission from the vicinity of R Aqr, but we note that there are small discrepancies between the OH- and H2 0-line velocities and positions. These demonstrate unequivocally that dust can shield some circumstellar hydroxyl and water molecules from dissociation, even in systems that possess intense local sources of uV. Finally, we discuss some of the implications of these observations. The narrow profile of the water maser in R Aqr means that there may finally be an opportunity to determine the system's orbital parameters. We also point out that high-resolution synthesis observations may trace the distribution of dust in Hl-36 and R Aqr, possibly throwing light on the mass-loss process in symbiotic Miras and placing constraints on the amount of collimation experienced by Uv radiation from their hot, compact companions. Key words: masers - binaries: symbiotic - stars: individual: R Aqr - stars: individual: Hi-36 Arae - dust, extinction - radio lines: stars.