Albedo distribution on Io's surface

A visual albedo distribution model for all hemispheres of Io's surface has been synthesized from available Earth-based and spacecraft image and photometric data. The resulting model indicates some interesting patterns and symmetries on Io's surface: The dark polar caps are shifted off Io's rotational axis and are eliptical rather than circular in shape, with extensions toward the sub-Jupiter and anti-Jupiter points on Io; equatorial bright areas are located approximately on a great circle about Io, the plane of which is tilted approximately 15° toward Io longitude 60°. These and other indicated features may be clues to understanding the endogenic and exogenic processes that have resulted in Io's present observed surface characteristics.