  Imaging and spectroscopic observations in the mid-infrared wavelength range
(5$\mu$m--30$\mu$m) offer valuable insight into the origins of stars and
planets. Sensitive new array detectors on 8-meter class telescopes make it
possible to study a wide range of phenomena, from protoplanetary disks to
starburst galaxies, in unprecedented detail. I review the capablities of
ground-based mid-infrared instruments (e.g., high spatial resolution) and their
limitations (e.g., poor sensitivity, small field of view) using several
examples in the field of star formation, and discuss prospects for the near
future.
