An atlas of periodic solutions to the three-body problem(threebodyorbits.com)
366 points by danielmorozoff 3 days ago | 90 comments
tl;dr: An interactive atlas cataloging 3,915 known periodic solutions to the three-body problem, where three masses return to their initial positions and velocities after one orbital period. Orbits are arranged spatially by similarity, grouped into family "islands," with each orbit having its own page where it can be animated, perturbed, and compared against others.
HN Discussion:
  • Praise for the site's visual design, organization, and mesmerizing animations
  • Questions about stability of orbits and resistance to perturbations
  • Confusion or curiosity about the scope of the three-body problem itself
  • ~Constructive suggestions for improving the site (e.g., showing starting positions, screensaver mode)
  • Sharing related/alternative projects on the same topic