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Moth IVa.4.A

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

Moth IVa.4.A is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 28.669 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 0.0497 of each other at a top speed of 4.5, line up 28 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.2×10⁻²⁸.

Measured over one period

Period: 28.66927091
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.30586
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.04971
Top speed: 4.496
Path length: 71.725
Alignments per period: 28
Stability: stable (|λ|max 1.000, published)
Loop closure: 1.2×10⁻²⁸

Neighbours on the map

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