Comments on the “Monoceros” affair

LOPEZ-CORREDOIRA, M.; A. MOITINHO; ZAGGIA, S.; MOMANY, Y; CARRARO, G.; HAMMERSLEY, P. L.; CABRERA-LAVERS, A.; VAZQUEZ, R. A.

arXiv:1207.2749v1

Cornell University Library

Lugar: Ithaca; Año: 2012 p. 1 - 6

1055-6796

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