Google Maps search may have uncovered 390-million-year-old crater
An amateur astronomer discovered a 390-million-year-old meteorite crater in Quebec, Canada, using Google Maps. Geologists have since confirmed the site, named Uhackatik, and plan to present their findings at an upcoming scientific meeting.
Why it matters
This demonstrates how public access to satellite imagery can contribute to significant scientific discoveries and geological research.
Hear this story What began as a search for hiking routes on Google Maps ended with the possible discovery of what researchers say may one of the largest meteorite impact craters identified in recent years.
Joël Lapointe, an amateur astronomer from Quebec, Canada, spotted an unusual circular depression while planning a camping and road trip through the Côte-Nord region in late 2023, according to the Canadian Press . The formation, measuring about 15.5 miles across and located roughly 62 miles north of the town of Magpie, caught his attention because it resembled a meteorite crater.
"I told myself, 'You haven't discovered anything, Joël, it's not possible, they must already know about this,'" Lapointe told the Canadian Press. After failing to find the feature in existing crater databases, he reached out to researchers, setting off an investigation that ultimately confirmed his suspicion, according to Smithsonian Magazine .
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