Photometric Observations of LO Peg in 2017

Abstract

New observations of the ultrafast rotator of the K3 spectral type, the star LO Peg, were carried out using a robotic wide-angle observation system in the Zvenigorod observatory of INASAN in 2017. Temperature-inhomogeneity maps on the LO Peg surface were reconstructed using the light curves, and the longitudes corresponding to the position of active regions were determined. The ongoing evolution of moving active regions and the phenomenon of switching positions of active longitudes in 2017 were established. The area of the star covered with spots has stopped decreasing and by now reach 17% of the area of its total visible surface. We defined more accurately the cycles of the long-period variability of LO Peg and noticed considerable changes in the shape of the power spectrum. Among cycles of the longterm variability greater than five years, only two cycles of 5.55 and 9.25 yrs began to appear. Based on analyzing the diagrams illustrating the relationship of the spot parameter with rotation, age, and Rossby numbers for LO Peg, 1570 M-dwarf stars, and eight objects from the Pleiades cluster with masses corresponding to the mass estimate for LO Peg (0.75 M_⊙), the conclusion was drawn about the increased activity (spottedness) of LO Peg in comparison with similar objects.