Originally published in 1955, this book contains the noted discussions of a conference on the co-ordination of galactic research, which was held near Groningen, Netherlands, in June 1953 by the International Astronomical Union. 'The report given in the following chapters summarizes the most essential parts of the discussions...it was considered more desirable to have a report with the relevant remarks arranged roughly according to the scheme of the memorandum that had been drawn up before the conference as a basis for the discussions'. Topics are detailed and varied; topic titles include, 'Overall structure: nuclear region and halo', 'Local structure: distribution of different types of stars in the plane' and 'Proper motions and radial velocities'. Notably, 'some of the introductory papers have in the meantime been published'. This book, containing symposium number one, will be of significant value to anyone with an interest in astronomy, cosmology and the history of physics.