In this chapter some areas of comparative exploration in our and external galaxies are reviewed and discussed. Photometric parameters for the Galaxy are derived. The radial scalelength is 5.0 ± 0.5 kpc, and this makes our Galaxy (and M31) unusually large unless Ho = 65 ± 10 km s−1 Mpc−1. Surface photometry of external edge-on galaxies, in particular of the very similar Sb spiral NGC 891, cannot provide independent evidence for or against the occurance of intermediate components (“thick disks”). The most likely Hubble classification of the Galaxy is Sb II. A crude mass model is given and it is shown that the rotation curve of our Galaxy cannot be fitted with a “maximum disk” model so that no “disk-halo conspiracy” exists. The Galaxy belongs to the class of large spiral galaxies, but about 10 percent of all disk stars occur in such systems. The orientation of the zone of avoidance relative to the Local Supercluster is very favourable; this contrasts sharply with the situation from within M31 or NGC 891.