Atlas2,481 of 3,915

Free-fall F1

(0.393, 0.288, 0.662)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F1 (0.393, 0.288, 0.662) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 0.393 : 0.288 : 0.662 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 7.8124 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 22259), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000378 of each other at a top speed of 49.8, line up 22 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 9.9×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 7.812441006
Masses: 0.393 : 0.288 : 0.662
Energy: -0.641553
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 3.8×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 49.81
Path length: 19.271
Alignments per period: 22
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 22259)
Loop closure: 9.9×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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