The evolution of the Milky Way

This book is a review of the most up-to-date observational and theoretical information concerning the chemical evolution of the Milky Way. A comparison between the abundances derived from field stars and clusters is presented together with information on the abundances and dynamics of gas. The role of supernovae and novae on the chemical enrichment history of our Galaxy is discussed in the framework of the most advanced and detailed chemical evolution models. The difficulties in obtaining reliable abundance measurements as well as precise predictions about stellar nucleosynthesis and chemical abundances in the interstellar medium are critically discussed by specialists in the field. Possible mechanisms for the formation and evolution of the Milky Way are suggested on the basis of comparison between theory and observations.