Atlas2,451 of 3,915

Free-fall F8

(0.6, 0.8, 1)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F8 (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 2.1207 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 144.8), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00000543 of each other at a top speed of 452, line up 26 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 6.6×10⁻²².

Measured over one period

Period: 2.120731662
Masses: 0.6 : 0.8 : 1
Energy: -4.45957
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 5.4×10⁻⁶
Top speed: 452.3
Path length: 8.3549
Alignments per period: 26
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 144.8)
Loop closure: 6.6×10⁻²²

Neighbours on the map

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