Atlas2,493 of 3,915

Free-fall F16

(0.393, 0.288, 0.662)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F16 (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 6.6521 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 14122), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0000223 of each other at a top speed of 193, line up 34 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.3×10⁻²³.

Measured over one period

Period: 6.652121286
Masses: 0.393 : 0.288 : 0.662
Energy: -0.937117
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 2.2×10⁻⁵
Top speed: 192.9
Path length: 17.520
Alignments per period: 34
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 1.4×10⁵)
Loop closure: 1.3×10⁻²³

Neighbours on the map

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