Atlas229 of 3,942

Broucke R11

From Broucke (1975)

Broucke R11 is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 17.022 time units, published by Broucke (1975). The prograde counterpart of the A family: the binary and the third body’s orbit turn the same way. It is unstable (largest Floquet multiplier 11676), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.453 of each other at a top speed of 1.7, line up 10 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.2×10⁻²⁶.

Measured over one period

Period: 17.02176861
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.55811
Angular momentum: 1.8322
Closest approach: 0.4526
Top speed: 1.701
Path length: 50.075
Alignments per period: 10
Topology: a (free-group class, read from the drawing, shape period T/5)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 11676)
Loop closure: 1.2×10⁻²⁶

Neighbours on the map

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