Atlas2,419 of 3,915

Free-fall F15

(1, 0.8, 0.8)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F15 (1, 0.8, 0.8) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.8 : 0.8 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 3.2111 time units, published by Li & Liao (2019). Three bodies released from rest fall together, swing past each other and return to rest exactly where they started. It is unstable (largest Floquet multiplier 14719), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00000774 of each other at a top speed of 322, line up 36 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 9.7×10⁻²¹.

Measured over one period

Period: 3.211091777
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.8
Energy: -4.73320
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 7.7×10⁻⁶
Top speed: 321.6
Path length: 14.186
Alignments per period: 36
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 14719)
Loop closure: 9.7×10⁻²¹

Neighbours on the map

All Free-fall orbits, the families of periodic three-body orbits, or the atlas map.