OB associations: from stellar to galactic scales

TL;DR

OB associations are low-density stellar groups whose study has been revolutionized by Gaia data, revealing their crucial roles in star formation, feedback processes, and galactic structure across multiple scales.

Contribution

This review synthesizes recent Gaia-based findings to highlight the multifaceted importance of OB associations in stellar and galactic astrophysics.

Findings

Gaia data improves membership identification in OB associations.

OB associations are key sites for studying massive stars and stellar multiplicity.

They significantly influence the interstellar medium and galactic evolution.

Abstract

Low-density and unbound stellar groups, OB associations have been historically delineated through their bright and massive members. They have been analysed for decades, but the arrival of Hipparcos, and more recently of Gaia led to a change of paradigm by allowing the identification of more reliable members using parallaxes and proper motions. This renewed interest offers an opportunity to emphasize the role of OB associations across many areas of astronomy. In this review, I highlight their importance across multiple scales: how OB associations constitute suitable sites to study massive stars and stellar multiplicity, their relation with star clusters, their interactions with the interstellar medium through the feedback of their massive members, and how they shape the structure and evolution of the Milky Way and beyond.