STAR-FORMATION IN TAURUS - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS FROM 2MASS

Data with the 2MASS prototype camera were obtained in a 2.3 sq. deg re gion in Taurus containing Heiles Cloud 2, a region known from IRAS obs ervations to contain a number of very young solar type stars. Data at 1.25 (J), 1.65 (H), and 2.2 (K(s)) mum are presented. These data are r epresentative of the type and quality of data expected from the planne d near-IR surveys, 2MASS and DENIS. Near-IR surveys will be useful for determining the large scale variation of extinction with clouds, for determining the luminosity function in nearby clouds down to ranges of 0.1-1.0 L., and for finding highly extincted T Tauri stars missed by IRAS because the bulk of their luminosity is emitted shortward of 12 m um.