Of the Jovian satellites, which shows the oldest, most cratered surface?Group of answer choicesMirandaEnceladusGanymedeTritonCallisto

To determine which Jovian satellite shows the oldest, most cratered surface, we analyze the provided options based on geological characteristics and observed features.

1. Understanding Satellite Surfaces: The surfaces of celestial bodies can reveal their geological history, with heavily cratered surfaces indicating an old and largely unchanged surface area, while smoother areas suggest younger geological activity.

2. Analysis of Options:

   • Miranda: A satellite of Uranus known for its varied topography, including cliffs and canyons, but not the most cratered.
   • Enceladus: A moon of Saturn famed for its cryovolcanoes and relatively smooth surface due to active geology.
   • Ganymede: The largest moon of Jupiter, showing a mixture of older, heavily cratered terrains and younger, icy regions.
   • Triton: Neptune's largest moon, exhibiting some active geology but not the most heavily cratered.
   • Callisto: Known for its heavily cratered surface, it's considered one of the oldest terrains in the solar system.

3. Conclusion: Among the options, Callisto has the oldest, most cratered surface due to its lack of significant geological activity over billions of years, preserving its craters.

Final Answer

Callisto