RNO 1B/1C - A DOUBLE FU ORIONIS SYSTEM

We present infrared imaging and spectroscopic data of the RNO 1 region in the L1287 molecular cloud. Both RNO 1B and RNO 1C show the strong 2.3 mum CO absorption bands observed in the pre-mainsequence FU Orionis variables (FUors). These results confirm Staude & Neckel's [ApJ, 400, 556 (1992)] identification of RNO 1B as a FUor from optical spectra; its nearby (6'' separation), heavily extincted companion-RNO 1C-also appears to be a FUor. The combined light of RNO 1B/1C has a spectral energy distribution similar to the embedded FUor V1735 Cyg (Elias 1-12). Over half of the known FUors now appear deeply embedded within dusty molecular gas, which suggests they have ages of roughly 1-3 X 10(5) yr. Our JHK imaging observations exhibit extended near-IR emission along the axis of the molecular outflow from RNO 1B/1C, with morphology similar to the extended I-band emission discovered by Staude & Neckel (1992). These observations and the spatial coincidence of the outflow center with RNO 1B/1C suggest one-perhaps both-of these objects drives the outflow. We show that the FUor wind can power this outflow-and the outflow in L1551 IRS5-if a young star spends roughly 5% of its pre-main-sequence lifetime as a FUor; this duty cycle agrees very well with the time needed to fill its circumstellar disk between eruptions given estimated infall rates.