Atlas5 of 3,942

Figure-8 V.1.B

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

Figure-8 V.1.B is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three equal masses that return to their starting positions and velocities every 6.2908 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 1.096), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.658 of each other at a top speed of 1.28, line up 6 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 2.5×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 6.290750839
Masses: 1 : 1 : 1
Energy: -1.29193
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.6583
Top speed: 1.281
Path length: 16.539
Alignments per period: 6
Topology: abAB (free-group class)
Stability: weakly unstable (|λ|max 1.096)
Loop closure: 2.5×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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