Optical observations of LS I +61 303

Variable flux modulated with the orbital period of ~26.5d has been detected from radio to very high-energy gamma-rays. In addition, the system presents a superorbital variability of the phase and amplitude of the radio outbursts with a period of ~4.6yr.

We present optical photometric observations of LS I +61 303 spanning ~1.5yr (table 1) and contemporaneous H-alpha equivalent width (EW) data (table 2). The optical photometry shows, for the first time, that the known orbital modulation suffers a positive orbital phase shift and an increase in flux for data obtained 1-yr apart. The orbital modulation of the EW presents, for the first time, a positive orbital phase shift.