NEAR-INFRARED IMAGING OF HH 1/2 IN SHOCKED MOLECULAR-HYDROGEN AND [FE-II]

We report here on near-infrared imaging of the HH 1/2 region in the H-2 v = 1-0 S(1) (2.121 mum) and [Fe II] (1.645 mum) lines. These observations reveal in detail the morphology of low and intermediate-velocity shocks in this area. In H-2 only the eastern boundary of the HH 1 bow shock is observed, presumably because of an asymmetrical distribution of ambient gas. Diffuse emission is also seen northwest (downstream) of HH 1. The VLA 1 jet is found to be more continuous, but of a similar length compared to that in the optical. A bright H-2 knot is found along the jet. Close to, and within, HH 2 we see evidence for the first time of a possible counter jet: in H-2 the faint optical tail to the northwest of HH 2 is seen as a series of clumps, while a string of fainter knots runs through HH 2 (and along the outflow axis) toward its southeastern corner. Many of the H-2 knots in HH 2 can be identified with corresponding optical knots, though there are clear differences in morphology and relative brightness. In particular their arc-shaped geometry in H-2 is indicative of ''minibow shocks'' which may result from a collection of ''bullets'' within HH 2. Features in the [Fe II] images are in general similar to the brightest optical emission observed in the [S II] lambdalambda6717, 6731 low-excitation lines.