16312

We propose HST-WFC3 observations of the R Aqr symbiotic system comma with joint Chandra and VLA observations comma to carry out a high-angular resolution multiwavelength study of the binary environment and of the spatial and spectral characteristics and propagation of the ejecta resulting from the recent - earlier than expected - periastron passage of the WD accretor. The proposed observations follow up on the 2019 to early 2020 DDT-ToO HST+Chandra+VLA observations which show dramatic changes within 1d_comma from the central binary since 2018 comma including newly ejected material obscuring the evolved Mira-type star and formation of a new jet. The observations are critical for studying the effects of the WD periastron passage comma which include enhanced accretion and mass-jet ejections in this nearby symbiotic binary. These phenomena are observable only about twice a century comma with the next periastron expected in about 40 years.