The spiral structure of our Galaxy

Abstract

We are presently passing through a very interesting phase in the study of the spiral structure of our Galaxy. Observational data have been accumulating at a good rate in both the optical and the radio-astro nomical fields, and there have been some very interesting new theoretical developments. We shall here be concerned principally with a survey of the needs for future optical work, but, to set the stage right, we shall refer on several occasions to theoretical developments and to parallel radio-astronomical research.