Atlas2,531 of 3,942

Free-fall F24

(1, 0.8, 0.8)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F24 (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 7.5001 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 838), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000137 of each other at a top speed of 88.4, line up 58 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 3.4×10⁻²³.

Measured over one period

Period: 7.500108996
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.8
Energy: -3.82721
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 1.4×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 88.37
Path length: 29.546
Alignments per period: 58
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 8380)
Loop closure: 3.4×10⁻²³

Neighbours on the map

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