A Submillimeter Study of the Star‐forming Region NGC 7129

New molecular (13CO J=3-2) and dust continuum (450 and 850 micron) SCUBA mapsof the NGC7129 star forming region are presented, complemented by C18O J=3-2spectra at several positions within the mapped region. The maps include theHerbig Ae/Be star LkHalpha 234, the far-infrared source NGC 7129 FIRS2 andseveral other pre-stellar sources embedded within the molecular ridge. The SCUBA maps help us understand the nature of the pre-main sequence starsin this actively star forming region. A deeply embedded submillimeter source,SMM2, not clearly seen in any earlier data set, is shown to be a pre-stellarcore or possibly a protostar. The highest continuum peak emission is identifiedwith the deeply embedded source IRS6, a few arcseconds away from LkHalpha 234,and also responsible for both the optical jet and the molecular outflow. Thegas and dust masses are found to be consistent, suggesting little or no COdepletion onto grains. The dust emissivity index is lower towards the densecompact sources, beta ~1 - 1.6, and higher, beta ~ 2.0, in the surroundingcloud, implying small size grains in the PDR ridge, whose mantles have beenevaporated by the intense UV radiation.Comment: Accepted by Ap