Program: GN-2008B-Q-1

We propose to use NIRI with LGS +Altair on Gemini North to mosaic the entire OMC1 outflow system in the 2.122 $\mu$m H$_2$ and 1.644 $\mu$m [Fe II] lines. The OMC1 outflow is the nearest example of a powerful mass-ejection from a system of forming massive stars. The origin of this remarkable object may shed critical light on the physical processes involved in the formation of massive stars, the interactions of such stars with their environment, and the processes that eject run-away stars. We will combine the 0.1\arcsec\ resolution images with archived HST data and other ground-based images to measure proper motions with unprecedented precision. The observations will be used to determine the point of origin of the OMC 1 outflow. They will test whether it was powered by continuous energy injection or an explosion, possibly triggered by the dynamical decay of a non-hierarchical massive star system that ejected the IR and radio sources BN, I, and n with speeds of 10 to 30 km~s$^{-1}$ about 500 years ago (Menten \& Reid 1995, Gomez et al. 2005) .