# # Program information file # PROGRAM_ID 2022B050 PROGRAM_TITLE Understanding Mass Accretion and Outflow Variations Triggered by Binary Orbital Motion PROGRAM_INV1 Tracy Beck PROGRAM_INV2 Gail Schaefer PROGRAM_INV3 William Fischer PROGRAM_INV4 James Muzerolle PROGRAM_INV5 PROGRAM_SCICAT stellar PROGRAM_ABSTRACT_BEG The remarkable T Tauri triple system has become a laboratory for understanding the early evolution of young multiple stars. Optical H-alpha imaging of the southern outflows from T Tau reveals periodic mass ejections. Correlation of the outflow kinematics with historical orbit timing of the T Tau South binary [T Tau S; period 27 yr] suggests an exciting prospect: the launch of the prior four southern outflow ejections may be nearly contemporaneous with the periastron passage of the close binary. Hence, the T Tauri triple system provides a unique opportunity to understand large-scale mass accretion variations and the launch of a predicted new outflow caused by the upcoming binary periastron passage in early 2023. We request six 4.5hr sessions with the NASA IRTF SpeX instrument to monitor the accretion and outflow characteristics in the T Tau S binary before this periastron timeframe. PROGRAM_ABSTRACT_END