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Free-fall F6

(0.6, 0.8, 1)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F6 (0.6, 0.8, 1) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 0.6 : 0.8 : 1 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 1.9624 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 734.8), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00000671 of each other at a top speed of 407, line up 22 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.9×10⁻²¹.

Measured over one period

Period: 1.962377092
Masses: 0.6 : 0.8 : 1
Energy: -4.34588
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 6.7×10⁻⁶
Top speed: 407.1
Path length: 7.6702
Alignments per period: 22
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 734.8)
Loop closure: 1.9×10⁻²¹

Neighbours on the map

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