2055 Dvořák, provisional designation 1974 DB, is an eccentric asteroid and sizable Mars-crosser from the innermost regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 8 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 19 February 1974, by Czech astronomer Luboš Kohoutek at the Bergedorf Observatory in Hamburg, Germany.[3] It was named after Czech composer Antonín Dvořák.[2]
Classification and orbit
Dvořák is a Mars-crossing asteroid, as it crosses the orbit of Mars at 1.666 AU. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.6–3.0 AU once every 3 years and 6 months (1,283 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.31 and an inclination of 21° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Bergedorf in 1974.[3]
Physical characteristics
Lightcurves
In July 2013, two rotational lightcurves of Dvořák were obtained from photometric observations by Julian Oey at the Blue Mountain Observatory (Q68), Australia, and by a collaboration of astronomers in Argentina. Lightcurve analysis gave a concurring rotation period of 4.405 and 4.4106 hours, respectively, both with a brightness variation of 0.17 magnitude (U=3-/3-).[5][6]
Diameter and albedo estimates
The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 8.18 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 12.8.[4]Dvořák has not been surveyed by any of the space-based telescopes such as IRAS, Akari and WISE.[1][4]