Bibcode
Hussain, G. A. J.; Allende Prieto, C.; Saar, S. H.; Collier Cameron, A.; Still, M. D.
Bibliographical reference
American Astronomical Society Meeting 202, #08.04; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 35, p.708
Advertised on:
5
2003
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
The technique of Doppler imaging enables us to map starspots at the
surfaces of rapidly rotating cool stars. Starspots are probes of
magnetic activity, thus the locations of these spots also indicate where
the strongest magnetic fields tend to emerge. We present surface spot
maps of the K2V component of V471 Tau from 2001-2002. Our spot maps can
be used (a) to show that magnetic activity is confined to high latitude
regions in the K2V component, (b) to measure surface differential
rotation of this component and (c) to evaluate spot lifetimes in rapid
rotators. We conclude that the K2V component of V471 Tau shows a similar
equator-pole lap-time as the Sun and that its surface spots last on the
order of months.