An amateur astronomer discovered a 390-million-year-old meteorite impact crater in Quebec, confirmed by scientists who named it Uhackatik after consulting the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit. The 25-kilometer-wide structure, found via Google Maps, was verified through fieldwork revealing shatter cones and impact melt rock, marking one of the biggest discovered in recent years.
Joël Lapointe, an amateur astronomer from Quebec, stumbled upon a mysterious circular indentation while using Google Maps to plan a 2024 camping trip. The feature, located 100 kilometers north of Magpie in Quebec’s Côte-Nord region, appeared too perfect to be natural. Lapointe, who had long been fascinated by meteorites, shared his observation with researchers, sparking a scientific investigation that confirmed the site as a 390-million-year-old meteorite impact crater.
A Rare Discovery Verified Through Fieldwork
Gordon Osinski, a planetary geologist at Western University and manager of the Impact Earth website, initially approached Lapointe’s claim with skepticism. However, the circular topography and early rock sample analyses intrigued him. In October 2025, Osinski led an expedition to the site, where the team encountered rugged terrain and logistical challenges. Despite the difficulties, they found clear evidence of an extraterrestrial impact: shatter cones—cone-shaped rock formations created by shockwaves—and impact melt rock, which forms under the extreme heat and pressure of an asteroid collision.
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This was one of the most arduous expeditions I’ve ever done,
Osinski said, noting the physical demands of navigating the remote location. The team’s findings, which will be presented at the 88th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society in August 2026, revealed that the crater is 25 kilometers wide, making it one of the biggest discovered in recent years. Most of these features are microscopic, so you can only confirm in the lab with samples,
Osinski explained, emphasizing the need for laboratory analysis to verify shock metamorphism—a process unique to meteorite impacts.
Naming the Crater and Its Geological Significance
After consultations with the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit, whose traditional lands the crater lies within, the site was officially named Uhackatik. Osinski noted that the crater’s age and preservation offered valuable insights into ancient impact events, comparing it to the Kamestastin crater in Labrador, a similarly sized and well-preserved site used to train astronauts for the Artemis missions.
For comparative craters [to Uhackatik], Kamestastin is actually a great one as the size is very similar,
Osinski said. This discovery is one of those rare examples that shows this is possible,
Osinski added, referencing the low success rate of amateur reports leading to confirmed craters.
Why This Matters: A Window to Earth’s Ancient Past
The confirmation of Uhackatik underscores the challenges of identifying ancient impact craters on Earth, where geological activity and erosion often obscure evidence.
Lapointe, who initially doubted his own discovery, described the confirmation as “amazing.” His story highlights the role of citizen science in advancing geological research. The Uhackatik crater, now part of Canada’s growing list of confirmed impact sites, serves as a reminder of the planet’s violent cosmic history and the enduring legacy of meteorite collisions.
The research team plans to continue analyzing samples to better understand the crater’s formation and its implications for Earth’s geological and biological history. As Osinski noted, Any crater discovered offers us insight into how craters form and the effects that they can have on Earth’s geology, biology, and climate.
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