Atlas2,317 of 3,915

Free-fall F18

(1, 0.8, 0.4)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F18 (1, 0.8, 0.4) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.8 : 0.4 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 2.3963 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 2918), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0000187 of each other at a top speed of 239, line up 22 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 3.7×10⁻²¹.

Measured over one period

Period: 2.396276440
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.4
Energy: -2.62985
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 1.9×10⁻⁵
Top speed: 238.9
Path length: 8.8953
Alignments per period: 22
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 2918)
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.