Atlas2,482 of 3,915

Free-fall F4

(0.393, 0.288, 0.662)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F4 (0.393, 0.288, 0.662) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 0.393 : 0.288 : 0.662 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 5.3029 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 5635), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000731 of each other at a top speed of 35.7, line up 26 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 7.2×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 5.302947216
Masses: 0.393 : 0.288 : 0.662
Energy: -0.960542
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 7.3×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 35.67
Path length: 14.254
Alignments per period: 26
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 5635)
Loop closure: 7.2×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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