Atlas11 of 3,942

Figure-8 V.17.J

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

Figure-8 V.17.J is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 89.94 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 0.418 of each other at a top speed of 1.61, line up 102 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 5.4×10⁻²⁹.

Measured over one period

Period: 89.94046797
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.44999
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.4185
Top speed: 1.609
Path length: 248.97
Alignments per period: 102
Topology: (abAB)¹⁷ (free-group class)
Stability: stable (|λ|max 1.000, published)
Loop closure: 5.4×10⁻²⁹

Neighbours on the map

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