Atlas218 of 3,942

Broucke A8

From Broucke (1975)

Broucke A8 is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 18.118 time units, published by Broucke (1975). Broucke’s 1975 retrograde family: a binary and a third body circling it, the binary turning one way and the third body’s orbit the other; several are linearly stable. It is linearly stable (largest Floquet multiplier 1.000), so a small nudge only makes it wobble. The bodies pass within 0.849 of each other at a top speed of 1.22, line up 14 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 4.8×10⁻³⁰.

Measured over one period

Period: 18.11818407
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.12079
Angular momentum: 0.95511
Closest approach: 0.8485
Top speed: 1.222
Path length: 45.092
Alignments per period: 14
Topology: a (free-group class, read from the drawing, shape period T/7)
Stability: stable (|λ|max 1.000)
Loop closure: 4.8×10⁻³⁰

Neighbours on the map

All Broucke A orbits, the families of periodic three-body orbits, or the atlas map.