V646 Pup TESS and ground photometry and spectrum

Precise i-band sensitive TESS data show that the little 0.005-0.01mag light variations imposed on this general trend do consist of a few independent wave trains of apparently time-coherent nature. Assuming that this is typical situation, from analysis of colour-magnitude diagrams obtained on earlier epochs we preliminarily inferred that the bulk of observed light changes could be owing to rotation of disc photosphere inhomogeneities, arising between 10-12 solar radii from the star.

It is not excluded that these inhomogeneities could also manifest themselves in rotational profiles of the disc, as obtained from the high-resolution spectra. Assuming Keplerian rotation of these inhomogeneities, we preliminarily determine the stellar mass at 0.7-0.9 solar masses. At least during certain weeks V646 Pup shows time-coherent light variability pattern(s) that could be explained by rotation of an inhomogeneous disc photosphere.

These preliminary results are similar to those better established for FU Ori, what suggests a common driving mechanism(s).