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Free-fall F27

(0.6, 0.8, 1)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F27 (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 9.4434 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 5687), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00187 of each other at a top speed of 24.3, line up 46 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.1×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 9.443414953
Masses: 0.6 : 0.8 : 1
Energy: -2.61148
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.001874
Top speed: 24.33
Path length: 32.130
Alignments per period: 46
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 5687)
Loop closure: 1.1×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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