Amateur Astronomer Finds Massive Ancient Impact Crater in Quebec via Google Maps

Amateur Astronomer Identifies Ancient Impact Crater

The feature, which is centered around Lake Marsal, measures approximately 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) in diameter. After failing to locate the site in existing crater databases, Lapointe submitted his findings to the Impact Earth database, a crowdsourcing project overseen by Gordon Osinski, a planetary geologist at Western University in Ontario, as reported by Space.

Confirmation Through Arduous Expedition

Although Osinski initially expressed skepticism—noting that he frequently receives reports from the public that do not turn out to be impact sites—the circular topography and preliminary analysis prompted further investigation. In 2025, a research team led by Osinski traveled to the remote site by float plane. Describing the mission as one of the most arduous he has ever undertaken, Osinski cited the rugged terrain and difficult conditions as major challenges to the expedition, according to Live Science.

To confirm the site as a genuine impact crater, the team sought specific geological indicators. They successfully identified shatter cones—cone-shaped rock formations created by intense shock waves—and well-preserved impact melt rock, which forms when the extreme heat and pressure of a collision melt the surrounding crust. These features are considered definitive evidence of an ancient meteorite strike. Following consultations with the Ekuanitshit Innu Council, the site has been named Uhackatik.

Significance of the Discovery

The confirmation of the Uhackatik crater is considered a rare event. According to Osinski, scientists typically identify only one or two new impact craters worldwide each year, and most are significantly smaller than the Uhackatik structure. Furthermore, this discovery marks the first time a new impact crater has been reported in Canada since 2010.

The crater dates back to approximately 390 million years ago, a period when Earth was home to primitive amphibians and predates the existence of dinosaurs, mammals, or humans. Because geologic activity and erosion gradually erase evidence of such collisions over hundreds of millions of years, ancient craters are difficult to locate. Researchers believe the study of such sites provides valuable insight into how impacts influence Earth’s geology, biology, and climate, while also offering comparisons for craters found on the moon and Mars.

Next Steps for Researchers

While the initial findings have been confirmed, the research team is continuing to examine collected rock samples for additional microscopic evidence of the impact. The team plans to present their findings at the 88th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society in Frankfurt, Germany, in August, followed by a submission to a scientific journal for peer review.

For Lapointe, the confirmation serves as a validation of his initial observation. It's not every day that an ordinary citizen finds a 390-million-year-old crater, Lapointe told CTV News. I encourage everyone to not ignore intuition or an observation, even if it isn't part of your field of expertise.