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Free-fall F8

(1, 0.8, 0.4)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F8 (1, 0.8, 0.4) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.8 : 0.4 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 2.9492 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 1261), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000122 of each other at a top speed of 93.2, line up 20 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 2.1×10⁻²⁴.

Measured over one period

Period: 2.949166886
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.4
Energy: -2.20628
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 1.2×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 93.24
Path length: 9.8027
Alignments per period: 20
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 1261)
Loop closure: 2.1×10⁻²⁴

Neighbours on the map

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