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II.C.246

From Li & Liao (2017)

II.C.246 is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 172.73 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 1619), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000766 of each other at a top speed of 36.1, line up 166 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 9.0×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 172.7271219
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.29453
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 7.7×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 36.13
Path length: 435.32
Alignments per period: 166
Topology: abaBAbaBAbaBAbabABabABabABabaBAbaBAbaBAbabABabABabABabaBAbaBAbaBAbabABabABabABabABAbaBAbaBAbaBABabABabABabAB (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 1619)
Loop closure: 9.0×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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