Dynamics of the Galactic Bulge

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Abstract
Recent work on the intrinsic shape, the internal kinematics of stars and gas, and the dynamics of the Galactic Bulge is discussed. Starcounts, measurements of the integrated light and the kinematics of the atomic and molecular gas all provide strong evidence that the Bulge is triaxial, and is rotating fairly rapidly. To date, there is little evidence for triaxiality in the stellar kinematics: the available stellar velocities are consistent with Kent's (1992) oblate model. This unsatisfactory situation is expected to improve rapidly.