9314808 Conti It has not been possible to observe the most massive stars shortly after their births because they are shrouded in the dust and gas clouds from which they formed. However these clouds can be penetrated using infrared radiation. Infrared spectra (near a wavelength of 2 microns) will be obtained for obscured objects in star forming regions to identify the newly formed massive stars. This will provide insights into the process of star formation and help to understand star burst galaxies. ***
