Atlas2,238 of 3,915

Free-fall F17

(1, 0.8, 0.2)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F17 (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 2.6214 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 441), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0000326 of each other at a top speed of 198, line up 22 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 2.8×10⁻²².

Measured over one period

Period: 2.621363629
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.2
Energy: -1.73366
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 3.3×10⁻⁵
Top speed: 198.0
Path length: 9.0347
Alignments per period: 22
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 4410)
Loop closure: 2.8×10⁻²²

Neighbours on the map

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