Paper detail

Comments on the "Monoceros" affair

This is a brief note to comment on some recent papers addressing the Monoceros ring. In our view, nothing new was delivered on the matter: No new evidence or arguments are presented which lead to think that the over-densities in Monoceros must not be due to the flared thick disc of the Milky Way. Again, we restate that extrapolations are easily misleading and that a model of the Galaxy is not the Galaxy. Raising and discussing exciting possibilities is healthy. However, enthusiasm should not overtake and produce strong claims before thoroughly checking simpler and more sensible possibilities within their uncertainties. In particular, claiming that a reported structure, such as the Monoceros Ring, is not Galactic (an exciting scenario) should not be done without rejecting the possibility of being due to the well established warped and flared disc of the Milky Way (simpler).