Atlas2,336 of 3,915

Free-fall F19

(1, 0.8, 0.8)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F19 (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 5.9395 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 19), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0000181 of each other at a top speed of 248, line up 44 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 3.7×10⁻²⁴.

Measured over one period

Period: 5.939540060
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.8
Energy: -3.72636
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 1.8×10⁻⁵
Top speed: 247.9
Path length: 23.300
Alignments per period: 44
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 1900)
Loop closure: 3.7×10⁻²⁴

Neighbours on the map

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