| Abstract: | Paradoxically, it is more difficult to determine the structure of our own Galaxy than that of more remote ones. The difficulty comes from our position inside the system. In addition to this geometrical obstacle there is another: interstellar dust absorbs a large part of the visible light which comes to us from the stars and the atmosphere itself attenuates other wavelengths. Modern developments in spatial and radio astronomy have enabled our Galaxy to be explored extensively. But at the same time, new riddles are being set: our Galaxy is not as well known as might seem at first sight. |
