1RESOLVING COMPONENTS OF THE MIRA AB INTERACTING BINARY SYSTEM

Mira AB is the the nearest symbiotic binary and the only interacting binary that has been resolved from X-ray to radio wavelengths. In this paper I describe results from multiwavelength observations of Mira AB carried over the past 20 years. These include recent Chandra ob-servations that resolved this interacting system for the first time at X-ray wavelengths. A Chandra spectrum of Mira AB and follow-up HST and ground-based obser-vations showed evidence for an unprecedented outburst from Mira A likely associated with magnetic flare fol-lowed by a mass ejection or jet-like activity. Chandra and HST images also detect a bridge between the com-ponents, showing that Mira B is also accreting via direct mass exchange. These results have major impact on our understanding of accretion processes in other currently unresolved “wind ” interacting systems