Atlas2,141 of 3,942

II.C.254

From Li & Liao (2017)

II.C.254 is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 143.6 time units, published by Li & Liao (2017). The largest class in the atlas: hundreds of II.C orbits for seven mass ratios. It is weakly unstable (largest Floquet multiplier 4.889), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0000528 of each other at a top speed of 138, line up 210 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 2.9×10⁻²².

Measured over one period

Period: 143.5988884
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.64697
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 5.3×10⁻⁵
Top speed: 137.6
Path length: 352.94
Alignments per period: 210
Topology: ababABAbabaBABababABAbabaBABababABABababABAbabaBABabaBABAbabaBABAbabABABabaBABAbabABABabaBABAbabaBABAbabABAbabaBABababABAB (free-group class)
Stability: weakly unstable (|λ|max 4.889)
Loop closure: 2.9×10⁻²²

Neighbours on the map

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