Almost anything that recognizably occupies the surface of a sphere can be used for its representation. One obvious choice is to draw the traditional grid of latutudes and longitudes, but another easily programmable choice is to run a spiral from one pole to the other.
Another, more exotic choice, is to select azimuthal and colatitudinal increments which complete different multiples of their circuits as the spiral runs its course, resulting in a sort of spherical Lissajous figure. It will fill the surface of the sphere with more crosshatching than a simple spiral.
Any number of other schemes can be imagined: choose points either randomly or with a density influenced by the intensity of a presumed light source and reflective characteristic of the surface. Draw a fractal curve to fill up the surface. Place identifying letters (such as chemical symbols) on the surface.