NEAR-IR IMAGING OF THE MOLECULAR OUTFLOWS IN HH-24-26, L-1634 (HH-240-241), L-1660 (HH-72) AND RNO-15-FIR

Narrow-band images in H-2 v=1-0 S (1) (2.122 mu m) and adjacent contin uum (2.104 mu m) ate presented of a number of outflows that are driven by young, deeply embedded sources. We report the detection of a H-2 o utflow associated with the Class 0 source in the HH 24-26 region, HH 2 4-MMS, as well as extensive H-2 line emission in the HH 25 and HH 26 C O outflows. In L 1634 a sequence of well-defined molecular bow shocks in the blue-shifted outflow lobe points to variability in the flow vel ocity, while in L 1660, the poorly aligned Hz knots suggest a wide out flow opening angle and perhaps also a variable flow direction. We also report the discovery of a highly collimated molecular jet associated with the embedded source RNO 15 FIR. These observations provide eviden ce that molecular outflows from young stars are driven by collimated j ets. Indeed, in H-2, we likely observe the molecular shocks which swee p up ambient gas to form the associated CO outflows. We find, however, no obvious correlation between the presumed age of the source of each outflow (based on its IR excess), and the length or luminosity of the flow in H-2.