Spitzerand Magellan Observations of NGC 2264: A Remarkable Star‐forming Core near IRS 2

We analyze {\it Spitzer} and Magellan observations of a star forming corenear IRS-2 in the young cluster NGC 2264. The submillimeter source IRAS 12 S1,previously believed to be an intermediate mass Class 0 object is shown to be adense collection of embedded, low mass stars. We argue that this group of starsrepresents the fragmenting collapse of a dense, turbulent core, based on anumber of indicators of extreme youth. With reasonable estimates for thevelocity dispersion in the group, we estimate a dynamical lifetime of only afew x 10$^{4}$ years. Spectral energy distributions of stars in the core areconsistent with Class I or Class 0 assignments. We present observations of anextensive system of molecular hydrogen emission knots. The luminosity of theobjects in the core region are consistent with roughly solar mass protostars.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journa