ABSTRACT. In these notes I will briefly summarize our knowledge about the dark matter problem, and emphasize the corresponding dynamical aspects. This covers a wide area of research, so I have been selective, and have concentrated on the subject of dark matter in nearby galaxies, in particular spirals.

KEY WORDS: Galaxies, Dark Matter

Table of Contents

• SCOPE OF THE DARK MATTER PROBLEM
• Several Dark Matter Problems ?
• Dark Matter in the Solar Neighbourhood
• Dark Matter in Groups and Clusters
• Dark Matter in Spiral Galaxies
• Expectations
• Early Debates
• Mass Modelling Methods
• Importance of the Dark Matter Problem Today
• DARK MATTER IN THE GALAXY
• Escape Speed for a Simple Spherical Model
• Disk Heating and Massive Black Holes
• Improved Local Disk Model
• Microlensing Results
• Satellites of the Milky Way
• Dwarf Galaxy Halos
• DARK MATTER IN SPIRAL GALAXIES
• Maximum Disks ?
• Declining Rotation Curves
• Warps
• Shape of Dark Matter Halos
• Polar Ring Galaxies
• Axisymmetry of the Disks
• Flaring Gas Layers
• Tidal Tail Extent
• Extended Dark Halos
• DARK MATTER IN OTHER SYSTEMS, AND AT LARGER SCALES
• Dark Matter in Ellipticals
• Groups and Clusters
• Dark Matter in the Universe
• Large Scale Structure
• Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and the Amount of Baryons
• Ω = 1 ?
• CONCLUDING REMARKS
• REFERENCES