NEAR-INFRARED OBSERVATIONS OF THE HH 46 47 SYSTEM

We report here on molecular hydrogen (H-2 2.12 mum), [Fe II] (1.64 mum), as well as broad-band K imaging of the bipolar Herbig-Haro (HH) outflow HH 46/47. In contrast to the optical images (e.g., [S II] lambdalambda6716, 6731), a wealth of detail is seen in the counterflow direction southwest of the HH 46/47 source (IRS). The optical object HH 47C is perceived to be the apex of an extensive bow shock in H-2, Which can be traced over more than 1', and the counterjet is observed in unprecedented detail. The flow direction northeast of the source is relatively devoid of H-2 emission, presumably because this portion of the outflow is moving out of the Bok globule. Nevertheless, a few H-2 knots have been detected in the HH 46 region, and we also have discovered a linear feature parallel to the HH 47A jet and offset by 4'' to the northwest, which may be the northern boundary of its bow shock. HH 47A itself is also found to be associated with H-2 emission. HH 47A and several fainter knots along its jet are observed in [Fe II] (1.64 mum), as well as a bright knot at the base of the optical counterjet. The HH 46/47 source can be seen directly in our near-infrared images. In line with recent models, it is shown that the redshifted molecular outflow in this region is almost certainly entrained ambient gas in the HH 47C bow shock.