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Free-fall F7

(0.6, 0.8, 1)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F7 (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 1.9435 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 6863), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00000456 of each other at a top speed of 494, line up 22 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.4×10⁻²⁰.

Measured over one period

Period: 1.943475064
Masses: 0.6 : 0.8 : 1
Energy: -4.47743
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 4.6×10⁻⁶
Top speed: 493.5
Path length: 7.3925
Alignments per period: 22
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 6863)
Loop closure: 1.4×10⁻²⁰

Neighbours on the map

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