A new infrared complex and molecular cloud in Orion

A new complex of infrared sources about one minute across has been discovered in Orion. Associated with this cluster is an extended molecular cloud producing intense CO emission. Its measured infrared luminosity is less than 500 times the luminosity of the sun. The complex is hypothesized to be composed of pre-main-sequence sources. Several arguments suggest that these stars heat dust in the larger molecular cloud and thus cause the strong CO emission. The complex is not associated with a known visible or radio continuum feature, and searches over a 0.7 x 0.7-deg field show no other comparable unknown 2.2-micron sources.