Atlas6 of 3,915

Figure-8 V.1.A

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

Figure-8 V.1.A is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 6.3259 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 0.691 of each other at a top speed of 1.27, line up 6 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.4×10⁻³⁰.

Measured over one period

Period: 6.325913983
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.28714
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.6905
Top speed: 1.272
Path length: 16.602
Alignments per period: 6
Stability: stable (|λ|max 1.000, published)
Loop closure: 1.4×10⁻³⁰

Neighbours on the map

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