Distances calculated directly from the Gaia parallax (left) and distances from BJ18 (right). Upper panels: (x, y) projection. The black semi-circle identifies the 15 kpc radius from the Galactic centre as a symbolic limit for the disk of the Galaxy. Lower panels: (y, z) projection. The red cross identifies the geometrical position adopted to the centre of the Galaxy assuming d = 8 kpc. The points are colour-coded by the total extinction in the Ks band. The sample is constrained in the VVV J and Ks magnitudes and for those stars with distances measured using BJ18.