Program: GN-2007A-Q-41

High mass protostellar objects (HMPOs) represent the earliest observable stages of massive star formation. HMPOs are difficult to find and as a consequence we have a rather poor understanding of these formative years of massive stars. Over the last few years the co-investigators have been conducting multiple wavelength surveys searching for HMPOs and trying to understand their nature. We have a list of 13 mid-infrared sources discovered with IRTF that will greatly benefit from Gemini follow-up observations. Our mid-infrared sources are desperately in need of good astrometry, and Gemini is uniquely suited for this. We have low resolution spectra for all but one of these sources, and have begun detailed modeling of their SED?s. Our models need the best possible angular size estimates in order to derive good densities and masses. The resolution afforded by the 8-m diameter of the Gemini telescope will allow us to improve on estimates for sources partially resolved by IRTF, and we expect Gemini to partially resolve those sources not resolved on the IRTF. The combination of accurate locations in relation to other emission in the HMPOs? environments like shocked H2 and accurate estimates of the masses of the mid-infrared emitting regions will be used to determine their nature and role in star formation.