ISSN 1063-7729, Astronomy Reports, 2024, Vol. 68, No. 2, pp. 161–167. © The Author(s), 2024.

This article is an open access publication.

Distribution of Cool Starspots on the Surface

of the Red Dwarf V647 Her
N. I. Bondar’a,*, K. A. Antonyuka,b, N. V. Pita, and I. Yu. Alekseeva
a Crimean Astrophysical Observatory RAS, Nauchny, Russia
b Special Astrophysical Observatory RAS, Nizhny Arkhyz, Russia
*e-mail: otbn@mail.ru
Received November 16, 2023; revised December 19, 2023; accepted January 29, 2024

Abstract—An analysis of photometric observations of the star V647 Her (M3.5V) obtained at the 1.25-m tele-
scope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in 2022 is presented. The presence of a low-amplitude vari-
ability in brightness of the star with a period of 20.69 d, found from observations in 2019 was confirmed. It is
shown that as the brightness decreases, the star becomes redder. The observed kind of photometric variability
is due to the presence of cool spots on the surface of the star and rotational modulation of brightness with a
full amplitude of no more than 0 m. 05. We perform a comparison of the photometric results obtained in 2019,
2022, and 2004. The locations of starspots at different epochs were determined from the analysis of phase
curves. The distribution of starspots has been maintained for 40–100 days. Starspot parameters were esti-
mated in the framework of the zonal model. The temperature of starspots is 2700–2800 K. The area they
occupied in 2004 is 15% of the total surface area of the star. According to the 2019 and 2022 data, it increases
up to 30%. The seasonal redistribution of starspots leads to the difference between the spottedness of hemi-
spheres, which is less than 2%.

Keywords: low-mass stars, red dwarfs, magnetic activity of stars, photometry, V647 Her
DOI: 10.1134/S1063772924700100

1. INTRODUCTION obtained results differ significantly [4]. The rapid rota-

The star V647 Her is a bright component (V =
m reported in [9] based on the results of the analysis of
11 . 2) in the astrometric binary system Gl 669 AB.
Along with another star V639 Her (V = 12 m. 93), it
forms a wide pair separated in projection by 16.8″ [1,
2], and they both are studied as non-interacting single
objects. These are flaring red dwarfs [3]; however,
observations in different spectral ranges have revealed
differences in manifestations of their activity [4],
which are explained by their internal structure. Theo-
retical calculations [5] showed that stars with masses
M < 0.35 M  are completely convective. According to
the mass and effective temperature, V647 Her (M3.5),
having a developed convective zone, still retains a
radiative core, and V639 Her (M4.5) belongs to fully
convective stars. The conditions for the development
of activity in such stars are different, as well as mecha-
nisms of its generation. This is confirmed by radio
observations of both stars [4]. An important parameter
that determines the topology of magnetic fields and
the level of stellar activity is the rotation velocity of a
star [6]. The rotation periods of many stars are deter-
mined from a series of spectral and photometric obser-
vations in the optical range [7, 8]. There are a small
number of studies for both Gl 669AB stars, and the
tion of the star V647 Her with a period of 0.95 days was
data from the ASAS catalogue, but later a period of
20.14 days was adopted [10]. A similar value
(19.81 days) was obtained from the SuperWASP pho-
tometric series [8]. In [11], when analyzing a sample of
V-values from the SuperWASP catalog, a rotation
period of 1.09 days was suspected. Photometric obser-
vations obtained with the 1.25-m telescope of the
Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (CrAO) in 2019
showed the presence of rotational brightness modula-
tion with a period of 20.69 days and a low probability
of periodicity of 1.098 days [12]. In 2022, a new series
of CCD observations was obtained at CrAO with the
aim of determining the characteristics of the star’s
brightness variability and studying their relation with
activity processes.
This paper presents the results of an analysis of the
brightness and color variations of the star V647 Her. It
is shown that the observed rotational modulation with
a period of 20.69 days is due to the presence of cool
starspots. Using the 2019, 2022, and 2004 phase
curves (SuperWASP catalogue), the distribution of

161
162 BONDAR’ et al.

Table 1. Observations of V647 Her and comparison stars in 2022

Time interval of observations JD 2450000+ Number of dates Number of measurements

05–30.07 9766.3374–9791.2662 11 60
12–30.08 9804.2904–9822.2588 9 45
01–28.09 9824.2524–9851.3133 12 307
01–29.10 9854.2067–9882.2262 11 162
01–15.11 9885.1606–9899.1566 5 35

Table 2. Brightness of the check star and V647 Her based on monitoring results in September and October 2022
ТYС 2082-2142-1 V647 Her
Number of
Date JD 2459800+
V  ch σ(Vch) V σ(V) measurements

16.09 39.2179–39.3635 0.597 0.006 0.171 0.006 79

19.09 42.2399–42.3575 0.586 0.006 0.162 0.006 67
25.09 48.2207–48.3243 0.597 0.007 0.197 0.007 57
28.09 51.2099–51.3133 0.596 0.006 0.175 0.005 60
15.10 68.1771–68.2723 0.585 0.005 0.179 0.006 50
21.10 74.1730–74.2468 0.592 0.005 0.157 0.006 43
29.10 82.1770–82.2262 0.581 0.006 0.153 0.005 29
V—values are given relative to the comparison star ТYС 2082-2143-1.

starspots on the stellar surface at different epochs was
examined, and their parameters were calculated
within the framework of the zonal model.
2. PHOTOMETRIC OBSERVATIONS
OF V647 HER AND COMPARISON STARS
Photometric observations of the star were carried
out at the 1.25-m telescope AZT-11 of the Crimean
Astrophysical Observatory using a CCD photometer
equipped with the GE-2048 BI CCD camera. The
specifications of the used СCD are as follows: (format
2k × 2k, pixel size 13.5 × 13.5 μm, field in the frame
9.′ 7 × 9.′ 7, image scale 0″. 57/pixel with a 2 × 2 binning).
Observations were carried out in the BV(RI)c bands in
the Johnson–Cousins system.
Since July 5 to November 15, 2022 we obtained the
photometric data for 48 observational nights. On each
date, at least five records were made sequentially in
each filter; the exposure time of one frame in the
BV(RI)c filters was 60, 30, 10, and 5 s, respectively. In
each filter, the resulting array of observations contains
609 frames; the journal of observations is presented in
Table 1. In September and October, for the seven dates
indicated in Table 2, observations were carried out in
the monitoring mode lasting 1–3.5 hours. In this case,
the filter was changed after recording one frame, and
the exposure time in the corresponding filters
remained the same.
Image processing was performed using the Max-
imDL program; nearby stars TYC 2082-2143-1, (V =
11 m. 22) and TYC 2082-2142-1 (V = 11 m. 99) (SIMBAD
database) were taken as comparison stars. Our esti-
mates of brightness for V647 Her and the reference star
TYC 2082-2142-1 were obtained in the instrumental
system, and we also determined the differential values
relative to the comparison star to rule out the influ-
ence of atmospheric extinction and erroneous mea-
surements. Based on the results of monitoring the pro-
gram and comparison stars, light curves were con-
structed according to which no regular variability
during the night was revealed for both stars. The aver-
age star brightness values during the night were deter-
mined with an accuracy of 0 m. 006 (Table 2). Over the
entire observation interval, the average brightness of
the check star does not exceed 2σ; the average bright-
ness level remains constant, equal to 0 m. 591 (±0.007).
According to the light curves of the star V647 Her, its
average brightness varies from night to night. Figure 1
shows the light curves for both stars based on observa-
tions in September–October; the v  ch values are
shifted, ∆Vch = v  ch – 0 m. 31.

ASTRONOMY REPORTS Vol. 68 No. 2 2024

 DISTRIBUTION OF COOL STARSPOTS ON THE SURFACE 163

'V, mag November 2022, is presented in instrumental values in

Fig. 2a. The preliminary processing allowed us to
0.1 1.0929.10.2022 exclude eight values related to the flare (JD 2459789)
V647 Her and random deviations from the data series (N = 609),
and then the average values for the observation dates
(N = 47) were determined. To compare with the 2019
results published in [12], we calculated the differential
0.2 values relative to the brightness of the comparison star
TYC 2082-2142-1 (Fig. 2b). The behavior of the star’s brightness vari-
ability in 2022 is the same as that in 2019; on both light
curves the level of maximum brightness retains, but at
some epochs the maximum and minimum values are
0.3 not reached. In October–November, in the time span
JD 2459854–2459899, the maximum brightness val-
9820 9840 9860 9880 ues were lower than the maximum level by ~7%, and
JD-2450000 the depth of minima became smaller by ~10–12%.
Fig. 1. Changes in the average brightness values of V647
The largest changes in brightness ∆V reached 0 m. 066,
Her in September–October 2022. The brightness values of which is slightly different from these values in 2019,
the check star (triangles) are given for a zero-point, equal
to –0.31; bars show standard deviation; dashed lines indi-
where ∆V = 0 m. 07. The average brightness level
cate monitoring dates. remains equal to 0 m. 17 (0.016).
An analysis of the light curve of the star by the
3. ANALYSIS OF BRIGHTNESS Yurkevich, Scargle and Hartley methods in 2019 has
AND COLOR FOR V647 HER shown that the ∆V-values vary with a period of
20.69 (0.07) days [12]. The same methods were used to
The behavior of the brightness of V647 Her, analyze the light curve in 2022. The results of a search
according to the results of photometry in July– for periods in the range from 1 to 40 days confirmed

V, mag

(a) V647 Her

11.4 05.0715.11.2022

11.5

9800 9850 9900

'V, mag
(b)
V647 Her
0.1 21.0624.11.2019 05.0715.11.2022

0.2

8650 8700 8750 8800 9750 9800 9850 9900

JD-2450000

Fig. 2. The behavior of the brightness of V647 Her according to observations in 2019 and 2022: (a) observation results for 2022;
(b) series of ∆V-values after primary data processing for 2019 and 2022, ∆V are difference values relative to the comparison star
TYC 2082-2143-1. The dotted line indicates the maximum level of brightness.

ASTRONOMY REPORTS Vol. 68 No. 2 2024

164 BONDAR’ et al.

'V, mag 'V, mag

20
V647 Her

Power
(а) (b) V647 Her
05.0715.11.2022 10
0.1 0.1 05.0715.11.2022
0
0 0.2 0.4
1/P, days

0.2
0.2
9800 9850 9900 9750 9800 9850 9900
JD-2450000 JD-2450000
'V, mag 'V, mag
V647 Her 01.1015.11.2022 0.05
(c) 05.0728.09.2022 (d) V647 Her
05.0715.11.2022
0.15

0.20
0.05
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 9750 9800 9850 9900
Phase (P = 20.69 d) JD-2450000

Fig. 3. Changes in the brightness of V647 Her with a period of 20.69 days: (a) light curve based on observations in 2022 and errors
in ∆V-values averaged on the observation date; (b) changes in the brightness of V647 Her with a period of 20.69 days, and the
inset shows a period of 20.69 days according to the Lomb–Scargle analysis; (c) convolution of data on the intervals 05.07–28.09
(crosses) and 1.10–15.11 (filled circles), and lines show approximating polynomials; (d) a series of residuals after subtracting vari-
ability with P = 20.69 d and the standard deviation for the residuals. Dotted lines indicate ±2σ levels.

the found value of the photometric period. Figure 3a
shows the light curve in 2022 and the presence of peri-
odic variability, represented by a sinusoid with a
period of 20.69 days (Fig. 3b). The inset shows the
Lomb–Scargle periodogram with a high peak at the
frequency corresponding to this period. The lines
indicate the FAP significance levels (0.3, 0.05, and
0.01) corresponding to 1σ, 2σ, and 3σ. A convolution
of all data was performed with photometric elements
HJD = 2453128.5102 + 20.69E, adopted in [12]. Tak-
ing into account that the amplitude of variability in
October–November decreases, we constructed phase
curves for this interval and for data obtained in July–
September. The approximations of these curves by
polynomials of the 4th and 5th degrees are presented
in Fig. 3c. It can be seen that in October–November
there were not only changes in the amplitude of vari-
ability but also in the shape of the phase curve, which
shows another minimum to appear. Data for a series of
residuals obtained after subtracting variability with a
period of 20.69 days do not show significant changes
exceeding the 2σ level (Fig. 3d). No further analysis
was performed on a series of residuals.
The observed features of the brightness variability
of V647 Her, such as small amplitude and a change in
the shape of the curve, are typical for the red dwarfs
with cool starspots on the surface. The presence of
such starspots leads to a reddening of the star, which is
clearly visible in its color indices in the red region of
the spectrum. Figure 4a shows the brightness changes
and V–I indices according to the V647 Her observa-
tions in 2022. The color indices vary in the range of
2.7–2.75, while at brightness minima the star becomes
redder. A convolution of V–I values with a period of
20.69 days is shown in Fig. 4b. The amplitude of vari-
ability is ~0 m. 04, and the phase minimum is 0.70. After
subtracting the contribution of the 20.69 d periodicity,
a number of residuals did not show changes exceeding
2σ (Fig. 4c).
4. DISTRIBUTION OF STARSPOTS
ON THE SURFACE OF THE STAR
AND ESTIMATES OF THEIR PARAMETERS
The brightness and color of V647 Her, according to
the Crimean observations in 2019 and 2022 and
according to the 2004 data from the SuperWASP cat-
alog, vary with a period of 20.69 days, which allows us
to consider this value as a rotation period of the star.
The phase curves plotted with this period represent the
characteristics of rotational modulation produced due
an inhomogeneous distribution of starspots on the
surface of the star. We found that the shape of the
phase curve, amplitude, and phase of the minimum

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 DISTRIBUTION OF COOL STARSPOTS ON THE SURFACE 165

Magnitude VI, mag

(a) V647 Her 2.70 (b) V647 Her

2.6 05.0715.11.2022 05.0715.11.2022
'v
2.7 2.75
vi
2.8
9750 9800 9850 9900 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
JD-2450000 Phase (P = 20.69 d)
'(VI), mag
0.05
(c) V647 Her
05.0715.11.2022

0.05
9750 9800 9850 9900
JD-2450000

Fig. 4. Changes in the V–I color index with a period of 20.69 days: (a) changes in brightness and color index V–I and the corre-
sponding rms; (b) convolution of V–I data with a period of 20.69 days and fitting of the phase curve by the 4th order polynomial
(solid line); (c) a series of ∆(V–I) residuals after accounting for periodicity 20.69 d. Dashed lines mark σ-value and ±2σ levels.

vary, remaining stable for 40–100 days (Figs. 3c, 5).

'V, mag According to the phases of minimum, two types of
V647 Her 05.0728.09.2022 phase curves can be distinguished: with one mini-
01.0824.11.2019 mum, when rotational modulation is caused by the
0.15 appearance of an area with a great starspot concentra-
tion on one of the hemispheres; and two minima,
when such areas were observed on both hemispheres,
as it was in October–November 2022. Table 3 shows
0.20 data on the amplitudes and phases of minimum at the
indicated intervals.
The characteristics of rotational modulation
V647 Her 01.1015.11.2022 change both on a short time scale and on a longer one,
21.0631.07.2019 expressed in years. The maximum amplitude of rota-
0.15 tion modulation increases by 30% in 2019 and 2022 as
compared to 2004. Seasonal changes in the amplitude
and phase of minima are caused by the evolution of
starspots and their distribution on the surface.
0.20 Changes on a longer scale indicate variations in the
intensity of processes of starspot formation.
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 To estimate the parameters of starspots within the
framework of the zonal model, the following photo-
Phase (P = 20.69 d)
metric data are required: the value of the maximum
brightness and its changes in the observation epoch
Fig. 5. Rotational modulation in brightness in 2019 and and the values of the color indicators B–V, V–R, V–I
2022. The phase curves (represented by polynomials) show [13]. Over a limited time interval, we can observe a
changes in the amplitude and phase of minima in 2019 certain maximum level of brightness corresponding to
(thin line) and 2022 (thick line). the minimum spottedness of the star at a given epoch,

ASTRONOMY REPORTS Vol. 68 No. 2 2024

166 BONDAR’ et al.
Table 3. Characteristics of rotational modulation in the
brightness of V647 Her at different epochs (Prot = 20.69 days)
Time interval Phase Amplitude
Year
of observations of minimum Amod
2004 24.05–23.07 0.43 0.03
15.08–24.09 0.17 0.026
2019 21.06–31.07 0.22 0.027
01.08–24.11 0.55 0.044
2022 05.07–28.09 0.72 0.046
01.10–15.11 0.66 0.028
01.10–15.11 0.09 0.015
but the brightness in the absence of starspots (Vmax) is
determined from long-term observations. For
V647 Her, we constructed the combined light curve
using the data from 1939 to 2018, and it shows that
Vmax = 11 m. 1(±0.1) [14].
According to this value of maximum brightness and
required input parameters, taking Teff = 3300 K [15]
for the photosphere in the absence of starspots, we
obtained the following estimates: the area occupied by
starspots in 2004 is ~15% of the total surface area of
the star, and in 2019 and 2022 it increases to 30%; the
temperature of starspots is 2700–2800 K. According to
the low-amplitude seasonal variations in brightness,
the difference between the maximum and minimum
values of the spotted area is 1–2%. The detailed calcu-
lations of the starspot parameters are being prepared
for publication.
5. CONCLUSIONS
Photometric studies of the M dwarf V647 Her, car-
ried out by us from the results of CCD observations in
2019 and 2022 at CrAO, have showed the presence of
low-amplitude brightness variability with a period of
20.69 days. The phase of minimum and amplitude
retain over 40–100 days. The V–I color indices change
with the same period, and in the minimum of bright-
ness, the star becomes redder. This type of variability
indicates the presence of cool starspots on the surface
of the star and their uneven distribution, leading to a
modulation of brightness with the rotation period. We
studied the rotational modulation in the light curve of
the star for several years of observation and deter-
mined the maximum brightness level. The amplitude
of rotational modulation does not exceed 0 m. 05.
According to the phase curves, spottedness zones are
usually found only on one of the hemispheres, at
phases 0.6–0.7 at some epochs or at phases 0.1–0.2 at
others. However, in October–November 2022, the
concentration of starspots was observed in the indi-
cated phases on both hemispheres. In 2004 (Super-
WASP catalogue), one of the hemispheres remained
more spotted, with starspot areas located at phases
0.43 and 0.17.
Based on the long-term data, including additions
from publications and photometric catalogs, we esti-
mated the maximum brightness of the star Vmax = 11 m. 1
and calculated the area and temperature of starspots
within the framework of the zonal model. In 2004,
starspots occupied 15% of the total surface area of the
star, and in 2019 and 2022 the area increased up to
30%; the temperature of starspots was 2700–2800 K at
a temperature of the quiet photosphere of 3300 K. The
difference in the spottedness of the hemispheres of the
star caused by an uneven seasonal distribution of star-
spots is 1–2%. Changes in the average annual bright-
ness over a time span of several years indicate a change
in the intensity of starspot formation processes, which
is noticeable when comparing the starspot area in
2004 and at the present epoch.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank the referee for useful comments and
suggestions.
In our study we have used the SIMBAD astronomical
database in Strasbourg, France, and the International Vari-
able Star Index (VSX, operated at AAVSO, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, USA). The authors are grateful to the staff
of these databases.
FUNDING
This work was supported by ongoing institutional fund-
ing. No additional grants to carry out or direct this particu-
lar research were obtained.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors of this work declare that they have no con-
flicts of interest.
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 DISTRIBUTION OF COOL STARSPOTS ON THE SURFACE
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