Atlas2,402 of 3,915

Free-fall F21

(1, 0.1, 0.01)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F21 (1, 0.1, 0.01) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.1 : 0.01 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 8.5047 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 1125), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0000433 of each other at a top speed of 214, line up 26 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.7×10⁻²⁴.

Measured over one period

Period: 8.504749628
Masses: 1 : 0.1 : 0.01
Energy: -0.116992
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 4.3×10⁻⁵
Top speed: 213.8
Path length: 19.139
Alignments per period: 26
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 1125)
Loop closure: 1.7×10⁻²⁴

Neighbours on the map

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