# # Program information file # PROGRAM_ID 2021B032 PROGRAM_TITLE Mapping the Warm Dusty Circumbinary Environment of the Symbiotic System R Aqr: Effects of the recent periastron passage of the WD PROGRAM_INV1 Margarita Karovska PROGRAM_INV2 Joseph Hora PROGRAM_INV3 Massimo Marengo PROGRAM_INV4 PROGRAM_INV5 PROGRAM_SCICAT stellar PROGRAM_ABSTRACT_BEG We propose a follow-up IRTF/SpeX observations of the interacting symbiotic binary R Aqr at 3.4 um and 5 um to determine the characteristics and dynamics of the warm dust emission regions detected in September 2020 SpeX images, including in the close circumbinary environment and the region where the inner-jet propagates. Our goal is to obtain high-angular resolution, high S/N images to confirm the presence of a disk-like structure perpendicular to the jet in the vicinity of the binary, and of shells/blob in the medium in which its powerful jet propagates. This IR-emitting material is likely related to the outburst resulting from the effects of the recent periastron passage of the accreting white dwarf [WD] and its close approach to the mass losing evolved giant star. The SpeX observations will result in high-angular resolution, high signal-to-noise images of the close sub-arcsecond circumbinary region of the inner-jet [< 1 arcsec, ~600 AU], as well as of the outer jet extending to 15 arcsec [3000 AU] and beyond. When combined with the results from our recent Chandra, HST, and VLA observations, the SpeX observations will allow us to determine the characteristics of the jet forming region and the jet interaction with the warm dust environment, including within the disk and with the surrounding shells. PROGRAM_ABSTRACT_END