Atlas2,161 of 3,942

II.C.17

From Li & Liao (2017)

II.C.17 is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 43.475 time units, published by Li & Liao (2017). The largest class in the atlas: hundreds of II.C orbits for seven mass ratios. It is unstable (largest Floquet multiplier 44.67), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0000135 of each other at a top speed of 272, line up 62 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 4.0×10⁻²¹.

Measured over one period

Period: 43.47466383
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.61929
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 1.4×10⁻⁵
Top speed: 272.0
Path length: 105.45
Alignments per period: 62
Topology: ababABAbabaBABababABAbabaBABababABAB (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 44.67)
Loop closure: 4.0×10⁻²¹

Neighbours on the map

All II.C orbits, the families of periodic three-body orbits, or the atlas map.