  We present an updated estimate of the surface density and surface brightness
in B,V,I of the local Galactic disc, based on a model for the "Solar cylinder"
calibrated to reproduce Hipparcos and Tycho star counts. We discuss the
mass-to-light ratio of the local stellar disc and infer the global luminosity
of the Milky Way, which results underluminous with respect to the Tully-Fisher
relation.
