  We present NH3(1,1) and NH3(2,2) observations of MBM 12, the closest known
molecular cloud (65 pc distance), aimed to find evidence for on-going star
formation processes. No local temperature (with a T_rot upper limit of 12 K)
nor linewidth enhancement is found, which suggests that the area of the cloud
we mapped (~ 15' size) is not currently forming stars. Therefore, this close
``starless'' molecular gas region is an ideal laboratory to study the physical
conditions preceding new star formation.
  A radio continuum source was found in Very Large Array archive data, close
but outside the NH3 emission. This source is likely to be a background object.
