A case of the 3-dimensional problem of Apollonius (Q1175448)

The classical problem of Appollonius is to determine the circles tangent to three given circles in the plane. In case no two of the given circles intersect and with no instance of separation, this problem really does have \(2^ 3=8\) solutions. In this note the authors consider the analogous case of the 3-dimensional problem of Appollonius in which no two of the 4 given spheres intersect and no three have the property that one separates the other two. It is the case for which it would be natural to expect a constant number of solutions, namely \(2^ 4=16\). In contrast to this conjecture the authors show, using inversive geometry and simplifications allowed by the action of the Möbius group, that the number of solutions, if finite, can be any integer from 0 to 16 and, if infinite, can be a one-, two- or three-fold infinity corresponding to one, two or three one-parameter families of solutions.