Galactic Bulges

This book contains the proceedings of the first large IAU Symposium dedicated to the bulges of spiral galaxies. Detailed attention is paid to the bulge of the Milky Way, one of the major building blocks of this system. Topics include the definition of the bulge in our Galaxy and its relation to the so-called spheroid. Discussions are presented regarding the stars contained in this bulge, their astrophysical properties, their motions and the metallicity variations which appear to be present. The possible existence of a bar in the bulge and its origin and future are also examined. The same topics are discussed in less detail for the bulges of other galaxies.