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Free-fall F42

(1, 0.8, 0.4)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F42 (1, 0.8, 0.4) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.8 : 0.4 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 3.6006 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 5753), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00000102 of each other at a top speed of 1186, line up 44 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 8.5×10⁻¹⁹.

Measured over one period

Period: 3.600572004
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.4
Energy: -2.77533
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 1.0×10⁻⁶
Top speed: 1186
Path length: 12.859
Alignments per period: 44
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 5753)
Loop closure: 8.5×10⁻¹⁹

Neighbours on the map

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