  A review of star formation in the Rho Ophiuchi molecular complex is
presented, with particular emphasis on studies of the main cloud, L1688, since
1991. Recent photometric and parallax measurements of stars in the Upper
Scorpius subgroup of the Sco-Cen OB association suggest a distance for the
cloud between 120 and 140 parsecs. Star formation is ongoing in the dense cores
of L1688 with a median age for young stellar objects of 0.3 Myr. The surface
population appears to have a median age of 2-5 Myr and merges with low mass
stars in the Upper Scorpius subgroup. Making use of the most recent X-ray and
infrared photometric surveys and spectroscopic surveys of L1688, we compile a
list of over 300 association members with counterparts in the 2MASS catalog.
Membership criteria, such as lithium absorption, X-ray emission, and infrared
excess, cover the full range of evolutionary states for young stellar objects.
Spectral energy distributions are classified for many association members using
infrared photometry obtained from the Spitzer Space Telescope.
