Atlas26 of 3,942

Figure-8 V.16.A

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

Figure-8 V.16.A is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 74.607 time units, published by Šuvakov & Dmitrašinović (2013). Three equal masses chase each other along a single figure-eight curve, the most famous choreography. It is unstable (largest Floquet multiplier 158.8), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.218 of each other at a top speed of 2.26, line up 96 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.9×10⁻²⁸.

Measured over one period

Period: 74.60655873
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.57662
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.2178
Top speed: 2.257
Path length: 211.08
Alignments per period: 96
Topology: (abAB)⁸ (free-group class, shape period T/2)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 158.8)
Loop closure: 1.9×10⁻²⁸

Neighbours on the map

All Figure-8 orbits, the families of periodic three-body orbits, or the atlas map.