Observations of Interstellar Molecules with a Novel Infrared Spectrograph

John Lacy
University of Texas, Austin


Infrared observations have provided important information about
interstellar and protostellar molecules, but are hampered by limited
resolution and sensitivity.  To extend our capabilities in the
mid-infrared, we have constructed a cross-dispersed echelle spectrograph,
TEXES, capable of 3 km/s resolution.  In the two years TEXES has been in
use of the IRTF, we have studied molecules in various astrophysical
environments.  I will talk about our observations of the Kleinmann-Low
region in Orion, where emission and absorption lines of several
molecules are helping us to understand the complex structure of the
nearest high-mass star forming region