Description
The reflection nebula NGC 7129 has long been known to be a site of recent star formation as shown, e.g., by the presence of deeply embedded protostars and HH objects. However, studies of the stellar population produced in the star formation process have remained rudimentary. A major step forward has been made with recent Spitzer imaging of the region. This study represents the next step towards a systematic assessment of the pre-main sequence population in NGC 7129. Completeness of the pre-main sequence sample is necessary for studying key features that allow the star-forming process to be understood, such as disk evolution, dynamical evolution, and mass function. At a presumed age of ~3Myr, NGC 7129 is in the critical range where disks around young stars disappear.
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