Over 100 trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions for masers associated with young, high-mass stars have been measured with the Bar and Spiral Structure Legacy Survey, a Very Long Basline Array key science project, the European VLBI Network, and the Japanese VERA project. These measurements provide strong evidence for the existence of spiral arms in the Milky Way, accurately locating many arm segments and yielding spiral pitch angles ranging from about 7 • to 20 • . The widths of spiral arms increase with distance from the Galactic center. Fitting axially symmetric models of the Milky Way with the 3-dimensional position and velocity information and conservative priors for the solar and average source peculiar motions, we estimate the distance to the Galactic center, R 0 , to be 8.34 ± 0.16 kpc, a circular rotation speed at the Sun, Θ 0 , to be 240 ± 8 km s −1 , and a rotation curve that is nearly flat (i.e., a slope of −0.2 ± 0.4 km s −1 kpc −1 )

We compile and analyze approximately 200 trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions of molecular masers associated with very young high-mass stars. Most of the measurements come from the BeSSeL Survey using the VLBA and

Context. Whether the Cygnus X complex consists of one physically connected region of star formation or of multiple independent regions projected close together on the sky has been debated for decades. The main reason for this puzzling scenario is the lack of trustworthy distance measurements. Aims. We aim to understand the structure and dynamics of the star-forming regions toward Cygnus X by accurate distance and proper motion measurements. Methods. To measure trigonometric parallaxes, we observed 6.7 GHz methanol and 22 GHz water masers with the European VLBI Network and the Very Long Baseline Array. Results. We measured the trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions of five massive star-forming regions toward the Cygnus X complex and report the following distances within a 10% accuracy: 1.30 +0.07 −0.07 kpc for W 75N, 1.46 +0.09 −0.08 kpc for DR 20, 1.50 +0.08 −0.07 kpc for DR 21, 1.36 +0.12 −0.11 kpc for IRAS 20290+4052, and 3.33 +0.11 −0.11 kpc for AFGL 2591. While the distances of W 75N, DR 20, DR 21, and IRAS 20290+4052 are consistent with a single distance of 1.40 ± 0.08 kpc for the Cygnus X complex, AFGL 2591 is located at a much greater distance than previously assumed. The space velocities of the four star-forming regions in the Cygnus X complex do not suggest an expanding Strömgren sphere.

Solar-mass stars form via disk-mediated accretion. Recent findings indicate that this process is probably episodic in the form of accretion bursts 1 , possibly caused by disk fragmentation 2-4 . Although it cannot be ruled out that high-mass young stellar objects arise from the coalescence of their low-mass brethren 5 , the latest results suggest that they more likely form via disks 6-9 . It follows that disk-mediated accretion bursts should occur 10,11 . Here we report on the discovery of the first disk-mediated accretion burst from a roughly twenty-solar-mass high-mass young stellar object 12 . Our near-infrared images show the brightening of the central source and its outflow cavities. Near-infrared spectroscopy reveals emission lines typical for accretion bursts in low-mass protostars, but orders of magnitude more luminous. Moreover, the released energy and the inferred mass-accretion rate are also orders of magnitude larger. Our results identify disk-accretion as the common mechanism of star formation across the entire stellar mass spectrum.S255IR NIRS 3 (aka S255IR-SMA1) is a well-studied ∼20 M (L bol ∼ 2.4×10 4 L ) high-mass young stellar object (HMYSO) 13,14 in the S255IR massive star-forming region 13 , located at a distance of ∼1.8 kpc 15 . It exhibits a disk-like rotating structure 13 , very likely an accretion disk, viewed nearly edge-on 16 (inclination angle ∼80 • ).A molecular outflow has been detected 13 (blueshifted lobe position angle (P.A.) ∼247 • ) perpendicular to the disk. Two bipolar lobes (cavities), cleared by the outflow, are illuminated by the central source and show up as reflection nebulae towards the southwest (blueshifted lobe) and northeast (redshifted lobe, see Fig.

Astrometric Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations of maser sources in the Milky Way are used to map the spiral structure of our Galaxy and to determine fundamental parameters such as the rotation velocity (Θ0) and curve and the distance to the Galactic center (R0). Here, we present an update on our first results, implementing a recent change in the knowledge about the Solar motion. It seems unavoidable that the IAU recommended values for R0 and Θ0 need a substantial revision. In particular the combination of 8.5 kpc and 220 km s −1 can be ruled out with high confidence. Combining the maser data with the distance to the Galactic center from stellar orbits and the proper motion of Sgr A* gives best values of R0 = 8.3 ± 0.23 kpc and Θ0 = 239 or 246 ± 7 km s −1 , for Solar motions of V = 12.23 and 5.25 km s −1 , respectively. Finally, we give an outlook to future observations in the Bar and Spiral Structure Legacy (BeSSeL) Survey.

Context. In high-mass (≥7 M ) star formation (SF) studies, high-angular resolution is crucial for resolving individual protostellar outflows (and possibly accretion disks) from the complex contribution of nearby (high-and low-mass) young stellar objects (YSO). Previous interferometric studies have focused mainly on single objects. Aims. A sensitive survey at high angular resolution is required to investigate outflow processes in a statistically significant sample of high-mass YSOs and on spatial scales relevant to testing theories. Methods. We selected a sample of 40 high-mass YSOs from water masers observed within the BeSSeL Survey. We investigated the 3D velocity and spatial structures of the molecular component of massive outflows at milli-arcsecond angular resolution using multi-epoch Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of 22 GHz water masers. We also characterize the ionized component of the flows using deep images of the radio continuum emission with resolutions of ∼0. 2, at 6, 13, and 22 GHz with the Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA). Results. We report the first results obtained for a subset of 11 objects from the sample. The water maser measurements provide us with a very accurate description of the molecular gas kinematics. This in turn enables us to estimate the momentum rate of individual outflows, varying in the range 10 −3 -10 0 M yr −1 km s −1 , among the highest values reported in the literature. In all the observed objects, the continuum emission at 13 and 22 GHz has a compact structure, with its position coincident with that of the water masers. The 6 GHz continuum consists of either compact components (mostly well aligned with the 13 and/or 22 GHz sources) or extended emission (either highly elongated or approximately spherical), which can be offset by up to a few arcseconds from the water masers. The unresolved continuum emission associated with the water masers likely points to the YSO location. The comparison of the radio continuum morphology to the maser spatial and 3D velocity distribution shows that five out of eleven high-mass YSOs emit a collimated outflow, with a flow semi-opening angle in the range 10• -30• . The remaining six sources present a more complicated relationship between the geometry of the radio continuum and water maser velocity pattern; therefore, no firm conclusions can be drawn regarding their outflow structure. In two sources, the 6 GHz continuum emission shows a highly elongated structure with a negative spectral index down to −1.2. We interpret this finding in terms of synchrotron emission from relativistic electrons accelerated in strong shocks, which indicates that non-thermal continuum emission could be common in high-mass protostellar jets. The Lyman continua derived from bolometric luminosities always exceed those obtained from the radio luminosities. Conclusions. These first results suggest that collimated outflows or jets can be common in high-mass YSOs and, in a couple of cases, provide hints that magnetic fields could be important in driving ...

Context. Protostellar jets and outflows are the main outcome of the star formation process, and their analysis can provide us with major clues about the ejection and accretion history of young stellar objects (YSOs). Aims. We aim at deriving the main physical properties of massive jets from near-infrared (NIR) observations, comparing them to those of a large sample of jets from low-mass YSOs, and relating them to the main features of their driving sources. Methods. We present a NIR imaging (H 2 and K s ) and low-resolution spectroscopic (0.95−2.50 μm) survey of 18 massive jets towards GLIMPSE extended green objects (EGOs), driven by intermediate-and high-mass YSOs, which have bolometric luminosities (L bol ) between 4 × 10 2 and 1.3 × 10 5 L . Results. As in low-mass jets, H 2 is the primary NIR coolant, detected in all the analysed flows, whereas the most important ionic tracer is [Fe ii], detected in half of the sampled jets. Our analysis indicates that the emission lines originate from shocks at high temperatures and densities. No fluorescent emission is detected along the flows, regardless of the source bolometric luminosity. On average, the physical parameters of these massive jets (i.e. visual extinction, temperature, column density, mass, and luminosity) have higher values than those measured in their low-mass counterparts. The morphology of the H 2 flows is varied, mostly depending on the complex, dynamic, and inhomogeneous environment in which these massive jets form and propagate. All flows and jets in our sample are collimated, showing large precession angles. Additionally, the presence of both knots and jets suggests that the ejection process is continuous with burst episodes, as in low-mass YSOs. We compare the flow H 2 luminosity with the source bolometric luminosity confirming the tight correlation between these two quantities. Five sources, however, display a lower L H 2 /L bol efficiency, which might be related to YSO evolution. Most important, the inferred L H 2 vs. L bol relationship agrees well with the correlation between the momentum flux of the CO outflows and the bolometric luminosities of high-mass YSOs indicating that outflows from high-mass YSOs are momentum driven, as are their low-mass counterparts. We also derive a less stringent correlation between the inferred mass of the H 2 flows and L bol of the YSOs, indicating that the mass of the flow depends on the driving source mass. Conclusions. By comparing the physical properties of jets in the NIR, a continuity from low-to high-mass jets is identified. Massive jets appear as a scaled-up version of their low-mass counterparts in terms of their physical parameters and origin. Nevertheless, there are consistent differences such as a more variegated morphology and, on average, stronger shock conditions, which are likely due to the different environment in which high-mass stars form.

Context. Recent observations of the massive young stellar object S255 NIRS 3 have revealed a large increase in both methanol maser flux density and IR emission, which have been interpreted as the result of an accretion outburst, possibly due to instabilities in a circumstellar disk. This indicates that this type of accretion event could be common in young/forming early-type stars and in their lower mass siblings, and supports the idea that accretion onto the star may occur in a non-continuous way. Aims. As accretion and ejection are believed to be tightly associated phenomena, we wanted to confirm the accretion interpretation of the outburst in S255 NIRS 3 by detecting the corresponding burst of the associated thermal jet. Methods. We monitored the radio continuum emission from S255 NIRS 3 at four bands using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. The millimetre continuum emission was also observed with both the Northern Extended Millimeter Array of IRAM and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. Results. We have detected an exponential increase in the radio flux density from 6 to 45 GHz starting right after July 10, 2016, namely ∼13 months after the estimated onset of the IR outburst. This is the first ever detection of a radio burst associated with an IR accretion outburst from a young stellar object. The flux density at all observed centimetre bands can be reproduced with a simple expanding jet model. At millimetre wavelengths we infer a marginal flux increase with respect to the literature values and we show this is due to free-free emission from the radio jet. Conclusions. Our model fits indicate a significant increase in the jet opening angle and ionized mass loss rate with time. For the first time, we can estimate the ionization fraction in the jet and conclude that this must be low (<14%), lending strong support to the idea that the neutral component is dominant in thermal jets. Our findings strongly suggest that recurrent accretion+ejection episodes may be the main route to the formation of massive stars.