Amateur Astronomer Discovers 390-Million-Year-Old Meteorite Crater in Quebec via Google Maps

Amateur astronomer Joël Lapointe discovered a meteorite crater in Quebec's Côte-Nord region while using Google Maps to plan a hiking trip. He noticed a 15.5-mile-wide indentation and, after finding no record in crater databases, contacted experts. A team led by planetary geologist Gordon Osinski from Western University confirmed the find during an October 2025 expedition. Evidence included shatter cones and impact melt rock. The crater, named Uhackatik in consultation with the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit, dates back 390 million years. Canada has more known meteorite craters than any other country due to its ancient bedrock. The discovery will be presented at the 88th Annual Meteoritical Society Meeting in Germany in August. Lapointe encourages others to trust their intuition.