Cool Stars 14 - Submitted Abstract # 67 This version created on 05 October 2006 Far Infrared Properties of M Dwarfs Thomas N. Gautier, NASA JPL/Cal Tech George H. Rieke, Steward Observatpry, University of Arizona John Stansberry, Steward Observatpry, University of Arizona Geoffrey C. Bryden, NASA JPL/Cal Tech Karl R. Stapelfeldt, NASA JPL/Cal Tech Michael W. Werner, NASA JPL/Cal Tech Charles A. Beichman, NASA JPL/Cal Tech Christine Chen, NOAO Kate Su, Steward Observatory, University of Arizona David Trilling, Steward Observatory, University of Arizona Brian M. Patten, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Thomas L. Roellig, NASA Ames Research Center Mid- and far-infrared properties of nearby M dwarfs are derived from Spitzer/MIPS measurements of a sample of 62 stars at 24 um, with subsamples of 41 and 20 stars observed at 70 um and 160 um respectively. We compare the results with current models of M star photospheres and look for indications of circumstellar dust in the form of significant deviations of K-[24 um] colors and 70 um / 24 um flux ratios from the average M star values. At 24 um, all 62 of the targets were detected; 70 um detections were achieved for 20 targets in the subsample observed; and no detections were seen in the 160 um subsample. No clear far-infrared excesses were detected in our sample. The average far infrared excess relative to the photospheric emission of the M stars is at least four times smaller than the similar average for a sample of solar-type stars. However, this limit allows the average fractional infrared luminosity in the M-star sample to be similar to that for more massive stars. ----------------------------------