Atlas1 of 3,942

Figure-8 V.17.H

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

Figure-8 V.17.H is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 88.673 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 linearly stable (largest Floquet multiplier 1.000), so a small nudge only makes it wobble. The bodies pass within 0.408 of each other at a top speed of 1.64, line up 102 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 3.4×10⁻²⁹.

Measured over one period

Period: 88.67323817
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.46377
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.4083
Top speed: 1.638
Path length: 246.07
Alignments per period: 102
Topology: (abAB)¹⁷ (free-group class)
Stability: stable (|λ|max 1.000, published)
Loop closure: 3.4×10⁻²⁹

Neighbours on the map

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