High resolution spectral survey of symbiotic stars in the near-IR over   the GAIA wavelength range
  High resolution (R~20,000), high signal-to-noise (S/N~100) spectra were collected for ~40 symbiotic stars with the Asiago echelle spectrograph over the same 8480-8740 Ang wavelength range covered by the ESA Cornerstone mission GAIA, centered on the near-IR CaII triplet and the head of the Paschen series. A large number (~140) of cool MKK giant and supergiant templates were observed with the same instrumentation to serve as a reference and classification grid. The spectra offer bright prospects in classifying and addressing the nature of the cool component of symbiotic stars (deriving T(eff), log g, [Fe/H], [alpha/Fe], V(rot)sin i both via MDM-like methods and syntetic atmosphere modeling) and mapping the physical condition and kinematics of the gas regions responsible for the emission lines. 
Paola M. Marrese, Rosanna Sordo and Ulisse Munari (Padova Astronomical   Observatory -- INAF, Asiago station and Department ...