Home / Science / Amateur Astronomer Discovers Ancient Meteorite Crater
Amateur Astronomer Discovers Ancient Meteorite Crater
22 Jul
Summary
- An amateur astronomer discovered a large meteorite crater using Google Maps.
- The newly identified crater is approximately 390 million years old.
- Scientists verified the finding by discovering impact melt-rock and shatter cones.
An amateur astronomer, Joël Lapointe, serendipitously discovered a vast meteorite crater while browsing Google Maps in 2023. The geological anomaly, spanning approximately 15.5 miles, was initially overlooked in crater databases, prompting Lapointe to submit his finding to experts.
In October 2025, planetary geologist Gordon Osinski visited the Québec site and confirmed it as a 390-million-year-old meteorite impact crater. Osinski identified characteristic rock formations, including impact melt-rock and shatter cones, validating Lapointe's observation. The findings are set to be presented at an upcoming scientific meeting.
Lapointe's discovery underscores the potential for significant findings through casual observation, encouraging others to trust their intuition. This event follows other instances where Google Maps imagery has revealed previously unknown features, such as shipwrecks and aircraft.
