Infrared observations of dust cloud structure in young R associations - NGC 1333, S68, and NGC 7129

Infrared photometry is presented from 1 to 100 microns of the major sources of luminosity in three regions of star formation which contain young B and A, but not O, stars. The reflection nebulae in all three regions are sources of 100-micron emission similar to previously observed optical reflection nebulae. All three regions also contain highly obscured sources which are often associated with radio maser activity, high-velocity gas outflows, and unusual radio continuum emission. There is a strong correlation between the occurrence of these radio phenomena and the presence of dust close enough to the central objects to radiate strongly in the 3-20 micron spectral region. These obscured sources are likely to be the pre-main-sequence counterparts to the nearby visible main-sequence stars; the obscured objects may still be undergoing mass accretion.