Atlas2,507 of 3,915

Free-fall F44

(1, 0.8, 0.4)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F44 (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 7.02 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 52.9), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0049 of each other at a top speed of 14.4, line up 34 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 2.4×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 7.020025819
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.4
Energy: -2.16589
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.004898
Top speed: 14.38
Path length: 26.661
Alignments per period: 34
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 52.90)
Loop closure: 2.4×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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