High spectral and spatial resolution observations of the 12.28 Micron emission from H2 in the Orion Molecular Cloud

The pure rotational S(2) line of molecular hydrogen at 12.28 μm has been looked for in 44 positions in the Orion Molecular Cloud with 6' beams and 35 km s-1 spectral resolution; it was detected in 27 positions. Emission has been observed over a velocity range of +- 100 km s-1. The lines are approximately symmetric and have full widths at half-maximum ranging from 100 km s-1 down to the resoluton limit. The distribution of intensities and line shapes is largely consistent with that seen in the 2 μm hydrogen transitions. However, unexpectedly complex line profiles and point-to-point variations in the line shapes appear, particularly in the region near IRc9