  We present adaptive optics (AO) images of the central starburst region of the
dwarf irregular galaxy IC10. The Keck 2 telescope laser guide star was used to
achieve near diffraction-limited performance at H and K' (Strehls of 18% and
32%, respectively). The images are centered on the putative Wolf-Rayet (W-R)
object [MAC92]24. We combine our AO images with F814W data from HST. By
comparing the K' vs. [F814W]-K' color-magnitude diagram (CMD) with theoretical
isochrones, we find that the stellar population is best represented by at least
two bursts of star formation, one ~ 10 Myr ago and one much older (150-500
Myr). Young, blue stars are concentrated in the vicinity of [MAC92]24. This
population represents an OB association with a half-light radius of about 3 pc.
We resolve the W-R object [MAC92]24 into at least six blue stars. Four of these
components have near-IR colors and luminosities that make them robust WN star
candidates. By matching the location of C-stars in the CMD with those in the
SMC we derive a distance modulus for IC10 of about 24.5 mag. and a foreground
reddening of E(B-V) = 0.95. We find a more precise distance by locating the tip
of the giant branch in the F814W, H, and K' luminosity functions. We find a
weighted mean distance modulus of 24.48 +/- 0.08. The systematic error in this
measurement, due to a possible difference in the properties of the RGB
populations in IC10 and the SMC, is +/- 0.16 mag.
