High-resolution infrared mapping of the Galactic center - Imaging and lunar occultations

This paper presents 2.2-micron observations of lunar occultations of the Galactic center that occurred in September 1988 and February 1989. These observations were used to determine the angular size of sources in and near IRS 16 with an accuracy of about 0.02 arcsec (or about 200 AU). Also presented are high-resolution images of IRS 16 at 1.65 and 2.2 micron and an analysis of the September 1986 occultation data originally published by Adams et al. (1988). The combined results of the analyses indicate that the major components of IRS 16, namely IRS 16NE, 16C, 16SW, and 16 NW are all compact, with diameters less than about 200 AU. They all have absolute 2.2-micron magnitudes of approximately -8. 30 refs.