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Free-fall F6

(1, 0.8, 0.2)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F6 (1, 0.8, 0.2) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.8 : 0.2 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 2.9465 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 172), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0117 of each other at a top speed of 9.92, line up 14 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 4.9×10⁻²⁷.

Measured over one period

Period: 2.946469855
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.2
Energy: -1.42043
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.01172
Top speed: 9.916
Path length: 9.3996
Alignments per period: 14
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 1720)
Loop closure: 4.9×10⁻²⁷

Neighbours on the map

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