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Free-fall F57

(1, 0.8, 0.6)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F57 (1, 0.8, 0.6) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.8 : 0.6 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 8.4832 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 481.1), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000438 of each other at a top speed of 45.1, line up 38 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 3.7×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 8.483150581
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.6
Energy: -2.13900
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 4.4×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 45.06
Path length: 28.445
Alignments per period: 38
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 481.1)
Loop closure: 3.7×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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