The luminosity function in NGC 2023

Sellgren (1983) has shown that the young stellar cluster within the molecular cloud associated with the reflection nebula NGC 2023 has a luminosity function consistent with the Salpeter IMF for stars brighter than K = 12 mag. Extrapolation predicts that approximately 50 additional stars brighter than K = 15 mag, arguably of spectral types G through K, should be present. However, images of the cluster using a sensitive two-dimensional IR array reveal no additional cluster members, which suggests that either no low-mass stars have formed or that they are still heavily shrouded in molecular 'cocoons' left over from the star formation process. A straightforward experimental resolution of the alternatives is proposed.