Detection of molecular hydrogen emission from G 333.6 - 0.2

Emission from the S(1) (upsilon=1 → 0; J=3 → 1) rotation-vibration transition of H2 at 2.1218 μm has been detected from the HII region G333.6-0.2. This detection has been confirmed by observations of the unresolved Q-branch lines of H2 at 2.4 μm. The H2 emission is very widespread, extending +- 60 arcsec in RA and at least +- 40 arcsec in Dec. If this emission comes from material close to the ionized hydrogen emission region, the total luminosity in all the H2 lines after correcting for extinction is approximately equal to 260Lsun. The spatial distribution and energetics of the H2 emission are consistent with the emitting region being a thin sheet at the interface between the molecular cloud and the ionized blister. (author)