Observations made during 1958–1959 at the McDonald Observatory and in 1969 at the Kitt Peak National Observatory found an uneven light curve with a period of 10.9267 hours.[8] In the late 1990s, a network of astronomers worldwide used light curves to derive spin states and shape models of 10 new asteroids, including (110) Lydia. They obtained a period of 10.92580 hours, with the brightness varying by no more than 0.2 in magnitude.[4]
In the Tholen classification system, it is categorized as an M-type asteroid, while the Bus asteroid taxonomy system lists it as an Xk asteroid.[9] Absorption features in the near infrared are attributed to low-iron, low-calcium orthopyroxene minerals. Water content on the surface is estimated at 0.14–0.27 by mass fraction (wt%).[10] Measurements of the thermal inertia of 110 Lydia give a value between 70 and 200 J·m−2·K−1·s−1/2, compared to 50 for lunar regolith and 400 for coarse sand in an atmosphere.[3] It is a likely interloper in the Paduafamily of minor planets that share similar dynamic properties.[11]
^Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003), Dictionary of Minor Planet Names (5th ed.), Springer, p. 23, ISBN3-540-00238-3.
^Taylor, R. C.; et al. (March 1971), "Minor Planets and Related Objects. VI. Asteroid (110) Lydia", Astronomical Journal, vol. 76, p. 141, Bibcode:1971AJ.....76..141T, doi:10.1086/111097.
^Hardersen, Paul S.; Gaffey, Michael J.; Abell, Paul A. (January 1983), "Near-IR spectral evidence for the presence of iron-poor orthopyroxenes on the surfaces of six M-type asteroids", Icarus, vol. 175, no. 1, pp. 141–158, Bibcode:2005Icar..175..141H, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.10.017.