Selected Exercises in Galactic Astronomy

Galactic Astronomy is, and for some time to come will certainly remain, one of the more important items in the astronomy curricula. There are at present a number of excellent text-books and monographs covering the whole subject or certain of its aspects. It seems however that there is not a single book where at least some of the more important problems dealt with in text-books and university courses would be presented in the form of laboratory exercises. This short series of exercises represents an attempt to fill this gap. What is, in general, the aim of such exercises? As to this point, the author fully agrees with Prof. Minnaert's opinion that "No natural science should ever be taught without practical work. Students in astronomy should have regular exercises, not so much to teach them observing skill, but mainly to bring before their eyes the reality of the concepts introduced during the lectures." This applies to Galactic Astronomy as well as to any other branch of our science.