The spectrum of the nebulosity around the symbiotic long-period variabnle, R Aqr.

Multichannel spectrophotometric and SIT spectrograph data are reported for the symbiotic star R Agr, and the physical parameters that describe the emission nebulosity are established. The reddening is 0.67 in (B-V), an electron temperature near 11,000 K is derived, and an electron density between 300,000 and 5,000,000 is found on the star position. A small enhancement of helium and a substantial enhancement of nitrogen are observed; the ratios of Ne III and S III to O III are nearly normal. Attention is also given to physical dimensions for the system, and the expansion velocity is estimated at about 30 km/s. In addition, it is argued that R Aqr may be a single star with a magnetically active region.