Outbursts of classical symbiotics: Multi-wavelength observations of the 2000--2001 outburst of Z Andromedae

We describe the first results from a program of multi-wavelength monitoring of symbiotic binary stars in outburst. The prototypical symbiotic star Z Andromedae was observed extensively at radio, optical, far-UV, and X-ray wavelengths during its current (ongoing) outburst. These observations provide evidence for an initial obscuration or the source of ionizing radiation by an optically thick shell of material, outflow with velocities of 100s of km/s, plus collisional excitation and shock heating of the red-giant wind. In addition, the optical light curve reveals variability on time scales as short as days on both the rise to and decline from optical maximum.