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Free-fall F16

(0.6, 0.8, 1)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F16 (0.6, 0.8, 1) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 0.6 : 0.8 : 1 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 5.822 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 5297), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000027 of each other at a top speed of 203, line up 32 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.8×10⁻²³.

Measured over one period

Period: 5.822041724
Masses: 0.6 : 0.8 : 1
Energy: -2.77147
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 2.7×10⁻⁵
Top speed: 203.0
Path length: 19.207
Alignments per period: 32
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 5297)
Loop closure: 1.8×10⁻²³

Neighbours on the map

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