A Study of Starspot Evolution on LO Pegasi using Light-curve Inversion

We present an analysis of starspot activity on LO Pegasi, a young active K-type dwarf star. Starspots, analogous to sunspots, are darker and cooler regions of intense magnetic activity that cause variations in the star's brightness as it rotates. Understanding these phenomena offers insights into the magnetic field dynamics of rapidly rotating stars, with broader implications for stellar evolution and solar-type magnetic processes. Using the Light-Curve Inversion (LI) technique developed by one of us (Harmon), we mapped the starspots on LO Pegasi by analyzing brightness variations obtained from photometric data collected from 2014 to August 2024. Differential aperture photometry was performed using AstroImageJ on images obtained at Perkins Observatory using 12- and 14-inch Meade telescopes equipped with a Quantum Scientific Imaging CCD camera. Our 2024 starspot map was compared with those from 2014-2023, revealing changes in the starspot distribution over this period of time.