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Free-fall F16

(1, 0.8, 0.2)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F16 (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 3.0341 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 5786), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00018 of each other at a top speed of 84.1, line up 22 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 8.8×10⁻²⁴.

Measured over one period

Period: 3.034133548
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.2
Energy: -1.58225
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 1.8×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 84.11
Path length: 10.038
Alignments per period: 22
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 5786)
Loop closure: 8.8×10⁻²⁴

Neighbours on the map

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