Near infrared molecular hydrogen emission in the NGC 2264 IRS1 region

Molecular hydrogen $v= 1-0\,S(1)$ narrow band imaging revealed a cluster of 4, or probably 5, highly collimated H2 emission jets and many isolated H2 emission knots in the NGC 2264 IRS1 region. Jets 1 and 2 each consists of 1 bright and 2 faint knots. Jet 2 is shifted towards northeast relative to jet 1, therefore, they are probably two distinct flows. Jet 3 is a short jet and jet 4 consists of 1 bright knot and several faint knots. Knots $I-K$ may constitute the fifth jet in the region. The relationship between these infrared outflows and the millimeter and submillimeter sources in the region, NGC 2264 MMS1-5, is discussed. Our detection of infrared outflows suggests that MMS1-5 are all in the protostar stage of their evolution. The high collimation of jets 1–4 may have important implication for the formation of intermediate and high mass stars