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Free-fall F15

(1, 0.8, 0.2)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F15 (1, 0.8, 0.2) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.8 : 0.2 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 4.8571 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 14689), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00000709 of each other at a top speed of 485, line up 24 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 3.7×10⁻²¹.

Measured over one period

Period: 4.857126017
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.2
Energy: -1.18165
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 7.1×10⁻⁶
Top speed: 484.6
Path length: 13.027
Alignments per period: 24
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 14689)
Loop closure: 3.7×10⁻²¹

Neighbours on the map

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