Molecular gas in NGC 7129

This paper reports new submillimeter molecular line observations of NGC 712 9, a reflection nebula and star-forming region. Maps of (CO)-C-12 and (CO)- C-13 2-1 and 3-2 emission show a cavity surrounded by bright ridges of dens er molecular gas. Known molecular outflows in the region issue from deeply embedded sources in these ridges. Only the red lobe of the most prominent o utflow is seen clearly, but there is some evidence to suggest that a blue c ounterjet is escaping through the front of the cavity. We suggest a picture of the region's evolution in which the oldest star, BD+65 degrees 1638, cr eated the cavity by sweeping the surrounding interstellar gas into the surr ounding ridges. This led to further star formation, as evidenced by the out flow sources found in the ridges. One of these sources, FIRS 2, thought to be an intermediate-mass analog of a Class 0 young stellar object, is coinci dent with a pointlike source seen in a near-IR (K') image.