Atlas98 of 3,915

Moth IVa.2.A

From Šuvakov & Dmitrašinović (2013). Sequences of orbits from the Belgrade three-body gallery.

Moth IVa.2.A is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 14.894 time units, published by Šuvakov & Dmitrašinović (2013). Broad, fringed wings built from many overlapping passes. It is linearly stable (largest Floquet multiplier 1.000), so a small nudge only makes it wobble. The bodies pass within 0.0795 of each other at a top speed of 3.56, line up 16 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 2.5×10⁻²⁹.

Measured over one period

Period: 14.89430517
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.38228
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.07947
Top speed: 3.561
Path length: 37.527
Alignments per period: 16
Stability: stable (|λ|max 1.000, published)
Loop closure: 2.5×10⁻²⁹

Neighbours on the map

All Moth IVa orbits, the families of periodic three-body orbits, or the atlas map.