Atlas2,422 of 3,942

Free-fall F2

(1, 0.8, 0.6)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F2 (1, 0.8, 0.6) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.8 : 0.6 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 3.496 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 3356), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000283 of each other at a top speed of 57, line up 14 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 3.7×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 3.495957144
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.6
Energy: -2.00684
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 2.8×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 57.01
Path length: 9.7271
Alignments per period: 14
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 3356)
Loop closure: 3.7×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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