M supergiants with large infrared excesses in the direction of the Galactic Centre.

The spatial distribution of M supergiant stars in the Galaxy is discussed on the basis of IR data from IRAS. Using the calibrated absolute magnitude and assuming no interstellar extinction at 12 microns, the distance moduli of the M supergiants are calculated. Nineteen of the 27 M supergiants are associated with the spiral arm. Seven M supergiants have distance moduli between 14.2 and 14.7, from which it is inferred that these stars are located within 2 kpc from the Galactic center.