Mapping the Galaxy and Nearby Galaxies

This is a proceedings book of the symposium "Mapping the Galaxy and Nearby Galaxies" held on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan, on June 25 30, 2006. The symposium focused on mapping the interstellar media and other components in galaxies. Latest results of the following main topics are presented in the volume:§Our Galaxy -- mass distribution, local ISM, supermassive black holes and their environments§Central part of nearby galaxies -- ISM around starbursts, fueling mechanisms§Nearby Galaxies -- molecular gas and star formation, gas dynamics§Galactic environment and evolution -- formation of our Galaxy, origin of supermassive black holes§The nature of the Dark Matter component -- effects on the internal structures of galaxiesReaders with any kind of an interest in astronomy will find this work fascinating, detailing as it does the proceedings of the symposium of the same name held in Japan in 2006. The symposium focused on mapping the interstellar media and other components in galactic disks, bulges, halos, and central regions of galaxies. Thanks to recent progress in observations using radio interferometers and optical/infrared telescopes in ground and space, our knowledge on structures of our Galaxy and nearby galaxies has been growing for the last decade.