  Before the end of 2002 will be launched the GALEX satellite (a NASA/SMEX
project) which will observe all the sky in Ultraviolet (UV) through filters at
1500 and 2300 A down to m(AB) 21. In 2004 will be launched the ASTRO-F
satellite which will perform an all sky survey at Far-Infrared (FIR)
wavelengths.
  The cross-correlation of both surveys will lead to very large samples of
galaxies for which FIR and UV fluxes will be available. Using the FIR to UV
flux ratio as a quantitative tracer of the dust extinction we will be able to
measure the extinction in the nearby universe (z<0.2) and to perform a
statistically significant analysis of the extinction as a function of galactic
properties. Of particular interest is the construction of pure FIR and UV
selected samples for which the extinction will be measured as templates for the
observation of high redshift galaxies.
