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II.C.252

From Li & Liao (2017)

II.C.252 is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 142.96 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 217.3), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000203 of each other at a top speed of 70.3, line up 180 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 9.3×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 142.9605329
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.54986
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 2.0×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 70.25
Path length: 368.04
Alignments per period: 180
Topology: aaBAbaBAbaBAbaBBabABabAAbaBAbaBAbaBAbbABabABaaBAbaBAbbABabABabABabAAbaBAbaBBabABabAAbaBAbaBBabABabABabABaaBAbaBAbbABabAB (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 217.3)
Loop closure: 9.3×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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