EVIDENCE OF HIGH-EXCITATION IN THE HERBIG-HARO-111 JET

We obtained long slit spectrophotometric observations in the blue spec tral region, 3600-5400 angstrom, of the Herbig-Haro (HH) 111 jet in Or ion. Our purpose was to search for the high excitation [O III] 5007 an gstrom line and medium-to-high excitation [O II] 3727/29 angstrom fine s in the internal condensations or knots of the jet. We found [O III], which indicates shock velocities greater-than-or-equal-to 80 km s-1, and strong [O II] in condensation L. The morphology and excitation of this condensation gives more support to a multiple bow shock structure in HH 111, and therefore, strengthens the case for a time variability of its source. Strong emission in [O II] was also found in most of th e bright condensations, indicating shock velocities greater-than-or-eq ual-to 40 km s-1. Estimates of the extinction in Herbig-Haro 111 give values of E(B - V) approximately 1, a relatively large value for an op tical HH object.