We report the detection of nebular emission lines in the optical and
mid-infrared spectra of IRAS 17347-3139, a heavily obscured OH/IR star which
may be rapidly evolving from the AGB to the PN stage. The presence of emission
lines is interpreted as a clear indication that the ionization of its
circumstellar envelope has already started. This source belongs to the rare
class of objects known as `OHPNe' displaying both OH maser and radio continuum
emission. However, unlike the rest of stars in this class, prominent C-rich
dust features are detected in its mid-infrared spectrum, which makes the
analysis of this star particularly interesting.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, Proc. IAU Symp. 234, Planetary Nebulae in Our
Galaxy and Beyond (3-7 Apr 2006), eds. M.J. Barlow & R.H. Mendez (Cambridge
Univ. Press