Atlas2,273 of 3,915

Free-fall F37

(1, 0.1, 0.01)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F37 (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 4.2739 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 4822), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00000133 of each other at a top speed of 37, line up 44 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 2.1×10⁻²¹.

Measured over one period

Period: 4.273949157
Masses: 1 : 0.1 : 0.01
Energy: -0.118582
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 1.3×10⁻⁶
Top speed: 369.5
Path length: 9.8459
Alignments per period: 44
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 4822)
Loop closure: 2.1×10⁻²¹

Neighbours on the map

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