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Figure-8 V.17.D

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

Figure-8 V.17.D is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 81.27 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 weakly unstable (largest Floquet multiplier 2.180), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.344 of each other at a top speed of 1.84, line up 102 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.3×10⁻²⁸.

Measured over one period

Period: 81.27027800
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.55133
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.3437
Top speed: 1.844
Path length: 229.95
Alignments per period: 102
Stability: weakly unstable (|λ|max 2.180)
Loop closure: 1.3×10⁻²⁸

Neighbours on the map

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