Star Formation in the Local Milky Way

TL;DR

This paper reviews how studies of local molecular clouds and young stars in the Milky Way are advancing understanding of stellar mass origins and the physical processes regulating star formation rates.

Contribution

It highlights recent observational progress in local star-forming regions that address key fundamental questions in star formation theory.

Findings

Insights into the origin of stellar mass.

Understanding of physical processes controlling star formation rate.

Significant contributions from local Milky Way studies.

Abstract

Studies of molecular clouds and young stars near the sun have provided invaluable insights into the process of star formation. Indeed, much of our physical understanding of this topic has been derived from such studies. Perhaps the two most fundamental problems confronting star formation research today are: 1) determining the origin of stellar mass and 2) deciphering the nature of the physical processes that control the star formation rate in molecular gas. As I will briefly outline here, observations and studies of local star forming regions are making particularly significant contributions toward the solution of both these important problems.