1Star Formation in the Galaxy, An Observational Overview

The problems of star and planet formation are among the most important challenges facing modern astrophysical research. Stars and their accompanying planetary systems are continuously being formed in the Galaxy enabling direct observation and investigation of the star forming process. However, stars form invisibly deep within cold and dark molecular clouds. Observations of these stellar birth sites at infrared and millimeter wavelengths from space and the ground have resulted in considerable progress toward a physical understanding of stellar origins. In this contribution I will review the empirical basis for our current understanding of the process of star formation with an emphasis on the origin of low mass (sunlike) stars. Stars are the fundamental objects of the Cosmos. They are the homes of plane-tary systems and they provide the energy necessary for the development and main-tenance of life. The evolution of stars drives the evolution of all stellar systems in-cluding clusters and galaxies. Stellar Evolution also controls the chemical evolutio