  We have made a lot of progress in the study of the MW. In spite of this, much
of our Galaxy remains unknown, and amazing breakthroughs await to be made in
the exploration of the far side of the Galaxy. Focussing on the Galactic
extinction horizon problem with current surveys like the Two Micron All-Sky
Survey (2MASS) and the Vista Variables in the Via Lactea Survey (VVV) and its
extension VVVX, the extinction horizon is a fundamental difficulty, and it is
my intention here to reveal how profound is our ignorance, and also to try to
suggest ways for improvement with future near-IR Galactic surveys.
