Gaia21bja is a Gaia alerted young stellar object (YSO) that exhibits at least seven quasiperiodic brightenings over a 20 yr long light curve with durations of 1.5-2 yr and amplitudes up to similar to 1.7 mag in the Gaia G band. We analyze its optical and near-infrared photometry and spectra taken using the Infrared Telescope Facility and Very Large Telescope in its faint and bright states in order to characterize its physical properties. A Lomb-Scargle periodogram analysis results in the most significant period of 916 +/- 77 days. We derived the stellar parameters as R star = 0.78 +/- 0.04 R circle dot, L star = (4.5 +/- 0.3) & times; 10-2 L circle dot, and M star = 0.16 +/- 0.03 M circle dot. The spectra taken during the burst are dominated by emission lines and are similar to those of EX Lupi-type eruptive young stars (EXors). We found that the accretion luminosity and mass accretion rate increased by a factor of 5.5-6 during the burst. Based on this, and the quasiperiodic bursts, we suggest that Gaia21bja is an eruptive YSO, and is most consistent with the "Periodic" category of the Outbursting YSOs Catalogue.

We analyzed optical/near-IR Large Binocular Telescope spectra of 16 sources alerted by Gaia between 2021 and 2024 due to significant photometric variability. Half of the spectra were taken during quiescence and the rest during a burst or at intermediate brightness. Our analysis of their 10 yr light curves and photometric/spectroscopic features provides evidence that all 16 sources are accreting young stellar objects (YSOs). One object, Gaia23bab, is a known EXor source. Other light curves either have peaks over a stable baseline or significant variability throughout the entire observation period, suggesting multiple contributing processes. All spectra exhibit emission lines from accretion columns, and over half of them show atomic forbidden lines as signatures of outflowing gas. We determined stellar parameters, accretion luminosity (Lacc), and mass accretion rate ( Macc ) at different brightness phases. Only two sources showed variability primarily due to extinction. During quiescence, our sources exhibit Lacc and Macc values typical of T Tauri and Herbig Ae/Be (HAeBe) sources, supporting the hypothesis that any YSO may undergo episodic accretion. In bursts, the Lacc and Macc of sources with photometric variations exceeding 2 mag follow a shallower relation with stellar luminosity and mass, typical of known EXor sources. This group includes one Class I, one flat-spectrum, and two Class II sources. Notably, the other Class I source, Gaia24beh, shows an Lacc value about 10 times higher than typical EXor bursts of the same mass. In the other cases, Lacc and Macc align with variability seen in T Tauri and HAeBe sources.

Context. Among known young stellar objects (YSOs), those exhibiting the most dramatic increases in brightness due to sudden increase in mass accretion rate are eruptive young stars. Gaia20dsk is one of the Gaia-alerted young star candidates that has displayed a double, nonperiodic brightening resembling that of other young eruptive stars. Aims. The goal of this work is to determine the physical and accretion properties of Gaia20dsk to confirm its classification as an eruptive young star. Methods. We combined publicly available optical and near-infrared (NIR) photometry with our X-shooter optical/NIR spectrum. In our analysis, we examined the optical and IR light curves from the bursts, reviewing the color-magnitude diagrams across different bands, reporting the detection of emission lines, and providing estimates of the star’s accretion rates during the burst. Results. The optical light curve shows two major and one brief brightening events with an maximum amplitude of ∼ 1.8 mag in the last five years. A classification based on spectral index indicates that Gaia20dsk is a flat-spectrum star. The X-shooter spectrum exhibit emission lines characteristic of accreting low-to-intermediate-mass young stars, displaying features typical of MNor-type objects. The mass accretion rate is between (0.5−1.8) × 10−6 M⊙/yr. Conclusions. Gaia20dsk is an eruptive YSO that exhibits photometric features similar to those of MNors, including its characteristic brightening amplitude and burst duration, along with similar spectroscopic features and accretion rates.

We report the discovery of a nearby FU Ori-type outburst (FUor), PR Ori B, in the L1641 cluster of the Orion star-forming region. The high-amplitude variability was first identified in the NEOWISE (3-5 μm) photometry of the unresolved PR Ori binary system. Long-term, resolved optical photometric monitoring demonstrates that PR Ori B is the driver of a ΔG=5mag outburst, while PR Ori A has remained constant over the last 20 years. The near-IR spectrum of PR Ori B changes from a late K-type spectral type during quiescence to a viscously heated disk during outburst, including deep absorption in ^12CO and H_2O bands. The optical spectrum also exhibits features that are commonly associated with FUors, including P Cygni profiles in Na I D lines and absorption in the Ca II infrared triplet. The luminosity of the outburst (L_acc∼30–40 L_⊙) is similar to that commonly observed in FUors. The comparison of Spitzer/IRS and VLT/VISIR spectroscopy shows some evidence of silicate crystallisation during the outburst. PR Ori B is one of the closest and brightest FUors discovered over the last few years, only one magnitude fainter than the archetype of the class FU Ori. The proximity and brightness will allow for future high angular resolution observations to probe the physics of the inner disk and to evaluate changes in the disk due to the increased luminosity.

Young stellar objects (YSOs) can display unpredictable and high-amplitude rises in brightness that can last from a few months to possibly over 100 years. These types of outbursts are explained by large changes in the mass accretion rate from the disk onto the central star. This type of variability has given support to a model of star formation (episodic accretion) where stars would spend most of their lifetimes accreting at low rates, and gain most of their mass through these short-lived accretion outbursts. The universality of episodic accretion, as well as its potential impact on stellar and planetary formation are still under debate. Improvement on the statistics of the members of the eruptive class is needed to better understand the episodic accretion phenomenon and its universality across different mass regimes and environments. In this paper we collect published information on the spectroscopic and photometric characteristics of 174 YSOs confirmed to belong to the eruptive variable class. We classify these objects into five different sub-classes (we find 49 FUor, 20 FUor-like, 16 EX Lupi-type, 81 Peculiar/V1647 Ori-like/MNors and 8 Periodic YSOs). The classification follows what has been done previously in the literature, and it is not an attempt to redefine these classes. In addition, we present a list of 18 embedded, and 6 massive YSOs, as additional categories of eruptive variable YSOs. Due to the complexity and/or faintness of these systems, it is hard to place them into the original classification scheme of this class of variable YSOs. Finally, we present a separate list of 355 candidate eruptive variable YSOs, which either lack spectroscopic information or the available spectroscopic data is not sufficient for an unambiguous classification. The online catalogue of confirmed and candidate eruptive YSOs will be maintained and updated in the future to serve as an important reference for the star formation community.

Episodic accretion is a fundamental process in the build-up of the stellar mass. EX Lupi-type eruptive young stars (EXors) represent one of the main types of episodic accretion. We study the recently discovered EXor Gaia23bab during its 2023 outburst. We obtained optical and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy to probe the variation of the physical properties of Gaia23bab during its recent outburst. We also collected archival photometry to study a previous outburst of the star. We used several accretion tracers, including the Ca ii triplet, He i , and various hydrogen lines from the Paschen and Brackett series, to measure the accretion rate during the outburst. The accretion rate is consistent with ∼2.0 × 10 −7 M ⊙ yr −1 . Comparing the line fluxes of the hydrogen Brackett series to predictions of Case B theory suggests excitation temperatures of 5000–10,000 K and electron densities of 10 9 –10 10 cm −3 . Comparison to the predictions of a model for T Tauri stars revealed that the fluxes of the Balmer series are consistent with temperatures of 5000–12,500 K and a hydrogen density of 10 8 cm −3 , while the fluxes of the Paschen series are consistent with temperatures in the range between 10,000 and 12,500 K and a hydrogen density of 10 11 cm −3 . The derived temperatures and densities confirm that Gaia23bab is a prototypical EXor, not only due to its accretion rate, but also based on the best-fit temperatures and densities revealed by the detected hydrogen lines.

Context. Gaia18cjb is one of the Gaia-alerted eruptive young star candidates which has been experiencing a slow and strong brightening during the last 13 years, similar to some FU Orionis-type objects. Aims. The aim of this work is to derive the young stellar nature of Gaia18cjb, determine its physical and accretion properties to classify its variability. Methods. We conducted monitoring observations using multi-filter optical and near-infrared photometry, as well as near-infrared spectroscopy. We present the analysis of pre-outburst and outburst optical and infrared light curves, color-magnitude diagrams in different bands, the detection of near-IR spectral lines, and estimates of both stellar and accretion parameters during the burst. Results. The optical light curve shows an unusually long (8 years) brightening event of 5 mag in the last 13 years, before reaching a plateau indicating that the burst is still on-going, suggesting a FUor-like nature. The same outburst is less strong in the infrared light curves. The near-infrared spectra, obtained during the outburst, exhibit emission lines typical of highly accreting low-intermediate mass young stars with typical EXor features. The spectral index of Gaia18cjb SED classifies it as a Class I in the pre-burst stage and a Flat Spectrum young stellar object (YSO) during the burst. Conclusions. Gaia18cjb is an eruptive YSO which shows FUor-like photometric features (in terms of brightening amplitude and length of the burst) and EXor-like spectroscopic features and accretion rate, as V350 Cep and V1647 Ori, classified as objects in between FUors and EXors

Context. Gaia18cjb is one of the Gaia -alerted eruptive young star candidates that has been experiencing a slow and strong brightening during the last 13 years, similarly to some FU Orionis-type objects. Aims. The aim of this work is to derive the young stellar nature of Gaia18cjb and determine its physical and accretion properties to classify its variability. Methods. We conducted monitoring observations using multi-filter optical and near-infrared (NIR) photometry, as well as NIR spectroscopy. We present an analysis of pre-outburst and outburst optical and IR light curves, color-magnitude diagrams in different bands, the detection of NIR spectral lines, and estimates of both stellar and accretion parameters during the burst. Results. The optical light curve shows an unusually long (over 8 years) brightening event of 5 mag in the last 13 years, before reaching a plateau indicating that the burst is still ongoing, suggesting a FU Orionis-like (FUor-like) nature. The same outburst is less strong in the IR light curves. The NIR spectra, obtained during the outburst, exhibit emission lines typical of highly accreting low-intermediate mass young stars with typical EX Lupi-type (EXor) features. The spectral index of Gaia18cjb SED classifies it as a Class I in the pre-burst stage and a flat-spectrum young stellar object (YSO) during the burst. Conclusions. Gaia18cjb is an eruptive YSO that exhibits FUor-like photometric features (in terms of brightening amplitude and length of the burst) as well as EXor-like spectroscopic features and accretion rate. Its nature appears similar to that of V350 Cep and V1647 Ori, which have been classified as objects in between FUors and EXors.

ABSTRACT Gaia21bty, a pre-main-sequence star that previously had shown aperiodic dips in its light curve, underwent a considerable ΔG ≈ 2.9 mag brightening that occurred over a few months between 2020 October and 2021 February. The Gaia light curve shows that the star remained near maximum brightness for about 4–6 months, and then started slowly fading over the next 2 yr, with at least three superimposed ∼1 mag sudden rebrightening events. Whereas the amplitude and duration of the maximum is typical for EX Lupi-type stars, optical and near-infrared spectra obtained at the maximum are dominated by features which are typical for FU Ori-type stars (FUors). Modelling of the accretion disc at the maximum indicates that the disc bolometric luminosity is 43 L⊙ and the mass accretion rate is 2.5 × 10−5 M⊙ yr−1, which are typical values for FUors even considering the large uncertainty in the distance ($1.7_{-0.4}^{+0.8}$ kpc). Further monitoring is necessary to understand the cause of the quick brightness decline, the rebrightening, and the other post-outburst light changes, as our multicolour photometric data suggest that they could be caused by a long and discontinuous obscuration event. We speculate that the outburst might have induced large-scale inhomogeneous dust condensations in the line of sight leading to such phenomena, whilst the FUor outburst continues behind the opaque screen.

FU Orionis objects (FUors) are eruptive young stars, which exhibit outbursts that last from decades to a century. Due to the duration of their outbursts, and to the fact that only about two dozens of such sources are known, information on the end of their outbursts is limited. Here we analyse follow-up photometry and spectroscopy of Gaia21elv, a young stellar object, which had a several decades long outburst. It was reported as a Gaia science alert due to its recent fading by more than a magnitude. To study the fading of the source and look for signatures characteristic of FUors, we have obtained follow-up near infrared (NIR) spectra using Gemini South/IGRINS, and both optical and NIR spectra using VLT/X-SHOOTER. The spectra at both epochs show typical FUor signatures, such as a triangular shaped $H$-band continuum, absorption-line dominated spectrum, and P Cygni profiles. In addition to the typical FUor signatures, [OI], [FeII], and [SII] were detected, suggesting the presence of a jet or disk wind. Fitting the spectral energy distributions with an accretion disc model suggests a decrease of the accretion rate between the brightest and faintest states. The rapid fading of the source in 2021 was most likely dominated by an increase of circumstellar extinction. The spectroscopy presented here confirms that Gaia21elv is a classical FUor, the third such object discovered among the Gaia science alerts.

Context. The Gaia third Data Release (DR3) presents the first catalogue of full-sky variable Young Stellar Object (YSO) candidates observed by the Gaia space telescope during the initial 34 months of science operations. Aims. Numerous types of variable stars were classified using photometric data collected by Gaia. One of the new classes presented in the Gaia DR3 is the class of YSOs showing brightness variability. We analysed 79 375 sources classified as YSO candidates to validate their young nature and investigate the completeness and purity of the sample. Methods. We cross-matched the Gaia DR3 YSO sample with numerous catalogues from the literature, including YSO catalogues based on optical and infrared data, as well as catalogues of extragalactic sources and Galactic variable stars. YSO catalogues were used to quantify the completeness of the Gaia DR3 YSO sample, while others were inspected to calculate the contamination. Results. Among the 79 375 potential Young Stellar Object candidates published in the Gaia DR3 variable star catalogue, the majority of these objects are distributed along the line of sight of well-known Star Forming Regions and the Galactic mid-plane. We found that the contamination level is well below 1%, while the completeness is also at the percent level, taking into account that the Gaia DR3 YSO sample is based on sources that showed significant variability during the data collection period. The number of sources in our sample that were never catalogued before as YSO candidates is in the order of $\sim$40 000 objects.

Gaia19fct is one of the Gaia-alerted eruptive young stars that has undergone several brightening events. We conducted monitoring observations using multi-filter optical and near-infrared photometry, as well as near-infrared spectroscopy, to understand the physical properties of Gaia19fct and investigate whether it fits into the historically defined two classes. We present the analyses of light curves, color variations, spectral lines, and CO modeling. The light curves show at least five brightening events since 2015, and the multi-filter color evolutions are mostly gray. The gray evolution indicates that bursts are triggered by mechanisms other than extinction. Our near-infrared spectra exhibit both absorption and emission lines and show time-variability throughout our observations. We found lower rotational velocity and lower temperature from the near-infrared atomic absorption lines than from the optical lines, suggesting that Gaia19fct has a Keplerian rotating disk. The CO overtone features show a superposition of absorption and emission components, which is unlike other young stellar objects. We modeled the CO lines, and the result suggests that the emission and absorption components are formed in different regions. We found that although Gaia19fct exhibits characteristics of both types of eruptive young stars, FU Orionis-type objects (FUors) and EX Lupi-type objects (EXors), it shows more similarity with EXors in general.

Young stars show variability on different time-scales from hours to decades, with a range of amplitudes. We studied two young stars, which triggered the Gaia Science Alerts system due to brightenings on a time-scale of a year. Gaia20wa brightened by about half a magnitude, whereas Gaia20fgx brightened by about two and half magnitudes. We analysed the Gaia light curves, additional photometry, and spectra taken with the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo and the Gran Telescopio Canarias. Several emission lines were detected towards Gaia20bwa, including hydrogen lines from H alpha to H delta, Pa beta, Br gamma, and lines of Ca II, O I, and Na I. The H alpha and Br gamma lines were detected towards Gaia20fgx in emission in its bright state, with additional CO lines in absorption, and the Pa beta line with an inverse P Cygni profile during its fading. Based on the Br gamma lines, the accretion rate was (2.4-3.1) x 10(-8) M-circle dot yr(-1) for Gaia20bwa and (4.5-6.6) x 10(-8) M-circle dot yr(-1) for Gaia20fgx during their bright state. The accretion rate of Gaia20fgx dropped by almost a factor of 10 on a time-scale of half a year. The accretion parameters of both stars were found to be similar to those of classical T Tauri stars, lower than those of young eruptive stars. However, the amplitude and time-scale of these brightenings place these stars to a region of the parameter space, which is rarely populated by young stars. This suggests a new class of young stars, which produce outbursts on a time-scale similar to young eruptive stars, but with smaller amplitudes.

We present follow-up photometric and spectroscopic observations, and subsequent analysis of Gaia20eae. This source triggered photometric alerts during 2020 after showing a ∼3 mag increase in its brightness. Its Gaia Alert light curve showed the shape of a typical eruptive young star. We carried out observations to confirm Gaia20eae as an eruptive young star and classify it. Its pre-outburst spectral energy distribution shows that Gaia20eae is a moderately embedded Class II object with L bol = 7.22 L ⊙. The color–color and color–magnitude diagrams indicate that the evolution in the light curve is mostly gray. Multiple epochs of the Hα line profile suggest an evolution of the accretion rate and winds. The near-infrared spectra display several emission lines, a feature typical of EX Lupi-type (EXor) eruptive young stars. We estimated the mass accretion rate during the dimming phase to be M˙ = 3–8 × 10−7 M ⊙ yr−1, higher than typical T Tauri stars of similar mass and comparable to other EXors. We conclude Gaia20eae is a new EXor-type candidate.

We study protostellar envelope and outflow evolution using Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS or WFC3 images of 304 protostars in the Orion molecular clouds. These near-IR images resolve structures in the envelopes delineated by the scattered light of the central protostars with 80 au resolution, and they complement the 1.2 μm to 870 μm spectral energy distributions (SEDs) obtained with the Herschel Orion Protostar Survey program. Based on their 1.60 μm morphologies, we classify the protostars into five categories: nondetections, point sources without nebulosity, bipolar cavity sources, unipolar cavity sources, and irregulars. We find point sources without associated nebulosity are the most numerous, and show through monochromatic Monte Carlo radiative transfer modeling that this morphology occurs when protostars are observed at low inclinations or have low envelope densities. We also find that the morphology is correlated with the SED-determined evolutionary class, with Class 0 protostars more likely to be nondetections, Class I protostars to show cavities, and flat-spectrum protostars to be point sources. Using an edge detection algorithm to trace the projected edges of the cavities, we fit power laws to the resulting cavity shapes, thereby measuring the cavity half-opening angles and power-law exponents. We find no evidence for the growth of outflow cavities as protostars evolve through the Class I protostar phase, in contradiction with previous studies of smaller samples. We conclude that the decline of mass infall with time cannot be explained by the progressive clearing of envelopes by growing outflow cavities. Furthermore, the low star formation efficiency inferred for molecular cores cannot be explained by envelope clearing alone.

V555 Ori is a T Tauri star, whose 1.5 mag brightening was published as a Gaia science alert in 2017. We carried out optical and near-infrared photometric, and optical spectroscopic observations to understand the light variations. The light curves show that V555 Ori was faint before 2017, entered a high state for about a year, and returned to the faint state by mid-2018. In addition to the long-term flux evolution, quasi-periodic brightness oscillations were also evident, with a period of about 5 days. At optical wavelengths both the long-term and short-term variations exhibited colourless changes, while in the near-infrared they were consistent with changing extinction. We explain the brightness variations as the consequence of changing extinction. The object has a low accretion rate whose variation in itself would not be enough to reproduce the optical flux changes. This behaviour makes V555 Ori similar to the pre-main sequence star AA Tau, where the light changes are interpreted as periodic eclipses of the star by a rotating inner disc warp. The brightness maximum of V555 Ori was a moderately obscured (AV =2.3 mag) state, while the extinction in the low state was AV =6.4 mag. We found that while the Gaia alert hinted at an accretion burst, V555 Ori is a standard dipper, similar to the prototype AA Tau. However, unlike in AA Tau, the periodic behaviour was also detectable in the faint phase, implying that the inner disc warp remained stable in both the high and low states of the system.

Aims. We aim to characterize the outflow properties of a sample of early Class 0 phase low-mass protostars in Orion, which were first identified by the Herschel Space Observatory. We also look for signatures of infall in key molecular lines. Methods. Maps of CO J = 3–2 and J = 4–3 toward 16 very young Class 0 protostars were obtained using the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) telescope. We searched the data for line wings indicative of outflows and calculated masses, velocities, and dynamical times for the outflows. We used additional HCO+, H13CO+, and NH3 lines to look for infall signatures toward the protostars. Results. We estimate the outflow masses, forces, and mass-loss rates based on the CO J = 3–2 and J = 4–3 line intensities for eight sources with detected outflows. We derive upper limits for the outflow masses and forces of sources without clear outflow detections. The total outflow masses for the sources with clear outflow detections are in the range between 0.03 and 0.16 M⊙ for CO J = 3–2 and between 0.02 and 0.10 M⊙ for CO J = 4–3. The outflow forces are in the range between 1.57 × 10−4 and 1.16 × 10−3 M⊙ km s−1 yr−1 for CO J = 3–2 and between 1.14 × 10−4 and 6.92 × 10−4 M⊙ km s−1 yr−1 for CO J = 4–3. Nine protostars in our sample show asymmetric line profiles indicative of infall in HCO+, compared to H13CO+ or NH3. Conclusions. The outflow forces of the protostars in our sample show no correlation with the bolometric luminosity, unlike those found by some earlier studies for other Class 0 protostars. The derived outflow forces for the sources with detected outflows are similar to those found for other, more evolved, Class 0 protostars, suggesting that outflows develop quickly in the Class 0 phase.

Context. The spatial distribution of molecules around starless cores is a powerful tool for studying the physics and chemistry governing the earliest stages of star formation. Aims. Our aim is to study the chemical differentiation in starless cores to determine the influence of large-scale effects on the spatial distribution of molecules within the cores. Furthermore, we want to put observational constraints on the mechanisms responsible in starless cores for the desorption of methanol from the surface of dust grains where it is efficiently produced. Methods. We mapped methanol, CH3OH, and cyclopropenylidene, c-C3H2, with the IRAM 30m telescope in the 3 mm band towards six starless cores embedded in different environments, and in different evolutionary stages. Furthermore, we searched for correlations among physical properties of the cores and the methanol distribution. Results. From our maps we can infer that the chemical segregation between CH3OH and c-C3H2 is driven by uneven illumination from the interstellar radiation field (ISRF). The side of the core that is more illuminated has more C atoms in the gas-phase and the formation of carbon-chain molecules like c-C3H2 is enhanced. Instead, on the side that is less exposed to the ISRF the C atoms are mostly locked in carbon monoxide, CO, the precursor of methanol. Conclusions. We conclude that large-scale effects have a direct impact on the chemical segregation that we can observe at core scale. However, the non-thermal mechanisms responsible for the desorption of methanol in starless cores do not show any dependency on the H2 column density at the methanol peak.

We present observations toward HOPS 383, the first known outbursting Class 0 protostar located within the Orion molecular cloud using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), Very Large Array (VLA), and Submillimeter Array (SMA). The SMA observations reveal envelope scale continuum and molecular line emission surrounding HOPS 383 at 0.85, 1.1, and 1.3 mm. The images show that HCO+ and (HCO+)-C-13 peaks on or near the continuum, while N2H+ is reduced at the same position. This reflects the underlying chemistry where CO evaporating close to the protostar destroys N2H+ while forming HCO+. We also observe the molecular outflow traced by (CO)-C-12 (J = 2 -> 1) and (J = 3 -> 2). A disk is resolved in the ALMA 0.87 mm dust continuum, orthogonal to the outflow direction, with an apparent radius of similar to 62 au. Radiative transfer modeling of the continuum gives disk masses of 0.02 M when fit to the ALMA visibilities. The models including VLA 8 mm data indicate that the disk mass could be up to a factor of 10 larger due to lower dust opacity at longer wavelengths. The disk temperature and surface density profiles from the modeling, and an assumed protostar mass of 0.5 M suggest that the Toomre Q parameter < 1 before the outburst, making gravitational instability a viable mechanism to explain outbursts at an early age if the disk is sufficiently massive.

Context. L1521E is a dense starless core in Taurus that was found to have relatively low molecular depletion by earlier studies, thus suggesting a recent formation. Aims. We aim to characterize the chemical structure of L1521E and compare it to the more evolved L1544 pre-stellar core. Methods. We have obtained ~2.5 × 2.5 arcminute maps toward L1521E using the IRAM-30 m telescope in transitions of various species, including C17O, CH3OH, c-C3H2, CN, SO, H2CS, and CH3CCH. We derived abundances for the observed species and compared them to those obtained toward L1544. We estimated CO depletion factors using the C17O IRAM-30 m map, an N(H2) map derived from Herschel/SPIRE data and a 1.2 mm dust continuum emission map obtained with the IRAM-30 m telescope. Results. Similarly to L1544, c-C3H2 and CH3OH peak at different positions. Most species peak toward the c-C3H2 peak including C2S, C3S, HCS+, HC3N, H2CS, CH3CCH, and C34S. C17O and SO peak close to both the c-C3H2 and the CH3OH peaks. CN and N2H+ peak close to the Herschel dust peak. We found evidence of CO depletion toward L1521E. The lower limit of the CO depletion factor derived toward the Herschel dust peak is 4.3±1.6, which is about a factor of three lower than toward L1544. We derived abundances for several species toward the dust peaks of L1521E and L1544. The abundances of most sulfur-bearing molecules such as C2S, HCS+, C34S, C33S, and HCS+ are higher toward L1521E than toward L1544 by factors of ~2–20, compared to the abundance of A-CH3OH. The abundance of methanol is very similar toward the two cores. Conclusions. The fact that the abundances of sulfur-bearing species toward L1521E are higher than toward L1544 suggests that significant sulfur depletion takes place during the dynamical evolution of dense cores, from the starless to pre-stellar stage. The CO depletion factor measured toward L1521E suggests that CO is more depleted than previously found. Similar CH3OH abundances between L1521E and L1544 hint that methanol is forming at specific physical conditions in the Taurus Molecular Cloud Complex, characterized by densities of a few ×104 cm−3 and N(H2) ≳ 1022 cm−2, when CO starts to catastrophically freeze-out, while water can still be significantly photodissociated, so that the surfaces of dust grains become rich in solid CO and CH3OH, as already found toward L1544. Methanol can thus provide selective crucial information about the transition region between dense cores and the surrounding parent cloud.