Atlas2,243 of 3,915

Free-fall F28

(1, 0.8, 0.2)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F28 (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 9.7561 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 397.9), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000705 of each other at a top speed of 43, line up 36 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.6×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 9.756081548
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.2
Energy: -1.24632
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 7.1×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 42.96
Path length: 27.262
Alignments per period: 36
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 397.9)
Loop closure: 1.6×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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