Case Studies in Star Formation offers an overview of our current observational and theoretical understanding in the molecular astronomy of star formation. The book is divided into six sections: the first introduces an overview of star formation and the essential language, concepts and tools specific to molecular astronomy studies. Each subsequent section focuses on individual sources, beginning with a description of large-scale surveys. The volume covers low- and high mass star formation, ionization and photodissociation regions, and concludes with the extragalactic perspective. Conventional textbooks begin with principles, ending with a few convenient examples. Through copious examples, Case Studies reflects the reality of research, which requires the creative matching of ongoing observations to theory and vice-versa, often raising as many questions as answers. This supplementary study guide enables graduate students and early researchers to bridge the gap between textbooks and the wealth of research literature.

‘The formation of stars is a mysterious process, ‘viewed through a glass darkly’, where the opacity is caused by interstellar dust. In recent years, however, the development of infrared and submillimetre-wave observational facilities has allowed us to peer through the fog to view star formation in all its complexity. In this book, the authors use a series of in-depth case studies to explain what we know about star formation in isolated systems and star clusters, from low-mass to high-mass objects, from galactic to extragalactic sources. Each case study follows a historical approach so that the reader can see both progress in our understanding and the questions that remain - as yet - unanswered.’

Tom Millar - Queen’s University Belfast