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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 January 2016
Currently it is possible to estimate the rotation profile of a star that harbours a planet in an orbit such that it eclipses the star periodically. During one of these transits, the planet may occult a spot on the photosphere of the star, causing small variations in its light curve. By detecting the same spot in a later transit, it is possible to estimate the stellar rotation period. Here we present the results of this model for the case of the star Kepler-63, which has a planet in an orbit with high obliquity. This means that the planetary eclipse occults many latitude bands of the star, from near the equator to the poles. The results show that Kepler-63 has differential rotation of 0.133 rd/d and a relative differential rotation of 11.4%.