Amateur astronomer discovers 390-million-year-old meteorite impact crater in Quebec
A 390-million-year-old meteorite impact crater has been identified in Quebec by an amateur astronomer using Google Maps.
📍 Where it landed
An amateur astronomer identified a 390-million-year-old meteorite impact crater in Quebec after noticing the geological formation while mapping a camping trip. The discovery garnered widespread media attention as a serendipitous event triggered by a Google Maps hunch.
The story quieted without a definitive conclusion in the coverage.
Epilogue added 44d ago, after coverage quieted.
The brief
A 390-million-year-old crater has been confirmed in Quebec after an amateur astronomer identified the site while reviewing satellite imagery on Google Maps. Geological confirmation establishes the site as the result of a cosmic collision that occurred millions of years ago. ABC News, Gizmodo, and Discover Magazine report that the discovery highlights the utility of public satellite mapping tools in identifying geological features.
Quasa.io and ZME Science note that the site was previously unknown to the scientific community until the camper’s initial observation prompted further investigation. The crater is currently situated in Quebec. Future updates will depend on official geological surveys and site examinations to provide additional data regarding the impact.
Coverage does not yet specify the next steps for formal site preservation or academic research.
Synthesized by headlinez.news from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: unsupported claims removed (88% supported) Updated 44d ago.
Quick answers
How was the crater discovered?
The crater was identified by an amateur astronomer using Google Maps while planning a camping trip.
How old is the crater?
The crater is estimated to be 390 million years old.
Where is the crater located?
The crater, named Uhackatik, is located in Quebec.
The reporting (6)
- Google Maps Canada Meteorite Discovery: How Quebec’s Uhackatik Crater Was Confirmed quasa.io · 44d ago
- Amateur Astronomer Discovers Ancient Meteorite Impact Using Google Maps Gizmodo · 44d ago
- Overnight Science News: The serendipitous discovery of a cosmic collision crater Daily Kos · 47d ago
- While Mapping a Camping Trip, Man Spots Previously Unknown 390-Million-Year-Old Meteorite Impact Crater in Quebec Discover Magazine · 47d ago
- A Camper’s Google Maps Hunch Revealed a 390-Million-Year-Old Meteorite Crater ZME Science · 47d ago
- Amateur astronomer discovers 390-million-year-old meteorite impact crater in Quebec ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos · 47d ago
Velocity
How fast coverage is spreading — measured hourly from article rate × source diversity. How this works →
Topics
Related trends
New images of the sun show its surface in the finest detail yet
World's most powerful solar telescope reveals turbulent plasma whirlpools on the sun's surface for the first time.
A NASA rover just discovered something strange on Mars that scientists can’t explain
NASA’s Curiosity rover has identified a field of unexplained honeycomb-like rock textures across the Martian surface.
'Crazy idea' succeeds: Scientists monitor space junk with radio telescopes
Researchers are successfully tracking orbital debris using radio telescopes, marking a shift in how small space objects are detected and monitored.
Giant Concentric Rings Discovered in The Atmosphere of Venus
Astronomers unexpectedly spot giant concentric rings in Venus's atmosphere, sparking fresh debate on the planet’s cloud dynamics
The 24-hour day is not fixed but slowly stretching, and in the dinosaurs' time it was shorter: the Moon's pull is gently braking Earth's spin, so a day back then ran about 23.5 hours, and far shorter deeper in the past
Earth’s days are slowly stretching—as the Moon drifts 3.8 cm yearly, a dinosaur-era day was only 23.5 hours.
Hubble shows star formation in Andromeda galaxy is winding down
Hubble data reveals Andromeda’s star‑birth rate has ebbed for 500 million years, signalling a middle‑age galaxy losing its newborn suns.