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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 March 2016
Twelve years ago, during the International Summer Course at Lagonissi, Bart Bok (1966) presented a paper “Desiderata for Future Galactic Research”. He pointed to the importance of studies in the galactic polar caps which would allow us, as he hoped, to determine some basic data for galactic structure.
The significance of his statements was demonstrated already in the following years when the gradual increase of our knowledge of the objects in the solar neighbourhood was suddenly interrupted by new observational data from which diverging conclusions have been drawn. Never before have such controversial opinions on problems in the vicinity of the sun been so eagerly discussed: A formerly unknown numerous population of low-velocity red dwarfs, the mass density resulting from stars three times that formerly thought, a remarkably increased luminosity function - yes or no? Obviously, the controversies have smoothed down again during the last months. But what is the situation after this troubled period? Which problems are still unsolved? Which promising programmes will be proposed? I think this Joint Discussion is justified in 1976!