page_title: Chaac-Camaxtli region
section_title: Camaxtli Patera
hierarchical_section_title: Chaac-Camaxtli region / Geography / Camaxtli Patera
caption_attribution_description: English: The right feature is the Camaxtli Patera
context_page_description: The Chaac-Camaxtli region is a volcanic region on Jupiter's moon Io, located from approximately 5 to 20°N and 130 to 160°W in its anti-Jovian hemisphere. It consists mainly of the hummocky bright plains that occupy the surface. This area is defined on the west by Chaac Patera, and on the east by Camaxtli Patera. At least 10 distinct volcanic centers are located in the region, making it a volcanically active region on Io's surface. Most of the volcanism here is expressed as paterae, which range in size from circular to elliptical. A patera is defined by the International Astronomical Union as "irregular or complex craters with scalloped edges." The largest volcanic structure here is the Chaac Patera. The paterae found in the Chaac-Camaxtli region are Chaac, Balder Patera, Grannos, Ababinili, Ruaumoko, Steropes, Camaxtli, Tien Mu, Utu, and Mentu.
  This region is full of features that provide clues to the volcanism, tectonism, and magmatic processes on Io. Similar concepts happening on Io have been thought to have occurred in Earth's past, and some terrestrial analogues occur today.
context_section_description: Camaxtli Patera is on the eastern edge of the Chaac-Camaxtli region (15°N,136°W).  It is named after the Aztec god of thunder, tornado, and war.  There is a hot spot in the patera.  Most imaging of the patera come from NIMS, and orbits E15, I24, and I27 of the Galileo flybys.  The patera features dark flows on its floor, along with a dark rim, possibly from the lava being erupted from faults at the bases of the walls.   There is a moderate abundance of white SO₂ concentration in the region.  The patera also has a dark halo around it, composed of dark diffuse material. The extensive amount of dark material in and around the patera coupled with differences in Voyager and Galileo photos suggests that it is quite active.  This observation is supported by NIMS data.  The vent location has migrated from the east side to the west side of the patera.
caption: The right feature is Camaxtli Patera.  The dark flows on the floor and halo composed of dark diffuse material can be seen.
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