NEAR-IR FLUORESCENT MOLECULAR-HYDROGEN EMISSION FROM NGC-2023

Spectra from 1 to 2.5 mu m, at 230-430 spectral resolution, are presen ted of the fluorescent molecular hydrogen line emission from two locat ions in the reflection nebula NGC 2023. Over 100 H-2 lines can be iden tified in the spectra, although blending and poor atmospheric transmis sion mean that reliable level column densities can only be obtained fr om 35 lines. This latter group includes lines from v = 1-8 and v = 10, spanning an energy range from 6000 to 45,000 K above the ground state . These data may be used to constrain models of photodissociation regi ons and of fluorescent excitation for molecular hydrogen.