WISE YSO candidates near {sigma} and {lambda} Ori

From WISE and 2MASS data we identify 544 and 418 candidate young stellar objects (YSOs) in the vicinity of {lambda} and {sigma} respectively. Based on our followup spectroscopy for some candidates and the existing literature for others, we found that ~80% of the K14-selected candidates are probable or likely members of the Orion star-forming region.

The yield from the photometric selection criteria shows that WISE sources with K_S_-w3>1.5mag and K_S_ between 10 and 12mag are most likely to show spectroscopic signs of youth, while WISE sources with K_S_-w3>4mag and K_s_>12 were often active galactic nuclei when followed up spectroscopically. The population of candidate YSOs traces known areas of active star formation, with a few new "hot spots" of activity near Lynds 1588 and 1589 and a more dispersed population of YSOs in the northern half of the HII region bubble around {sigma} and {epsilon} Ori.