Star formation and the lunar initiative

This paper considers the opportunities offered by proposed lunar observatories for studies of the origin of stars and related objects. We summarize the principal advantages to be gained by astronomical observations from the Moon. We then give a brief outline of the working hypothesis that present-day star formation in the Galaxy involves four conceptually distinct stages. We conclude by emphasizing that the greatest strides forward in understanding will probably come from interferometric investigations that can be carried out with at least 10 milliarcsecond angular resolution at submillimeter and far infrared wavelengths, and 10 microarcsecond resolution at ultraviolet, optical, and near infrared wavelengths.