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The BN/KL area in the Orion molecular cloud is a model for the study of star formation. The main source of outflow in the BN/KL area could be an object termed radio source I, which is thought to be surrounded by rotating molecular material. High-resolution observations of silicon monoxide (SiO) and water maser emission are reported from gas around source I, and it is shown that the area is dominated by a conical bipolar outflow within 60 AU of the source.

Accurate measurements of extragalactic distances is required for realistic descriptions of the age, geometry and fate of the Universe. A geometric distance to the galaxy NGC4258 is reported, taken from direct measurements of orbital motions in the gas disk around the nucleus of the galaxy. The distance, 7.2 plus or minus 0.3 Mpc is more precise than any extragalactic distance yet measured.

Baseline interferometric observations of OH masers in the galactic star-forming complex W49N provide evidence for magnetic-field-induced anisotropy of the interstellar medium. The elliptical maser images show perpendicular alignment to the galactic plane. This maser orientation indicates that the magnetic field of our galaxy mediates energy transfer from large to small spatial scales, thereby effecting interstellar turbulence.