Quebec impact crater discovered by amateur astronomer

An amateur astronomer, Joël Lapointe, discovered a massive 25-kilometer-wide impact crater in the remote Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada, while searching for camping locations on satellite maps in 2024.

Initially, geologists attributed the circular formation near Lake Marsal to volcanic activity. However, following Lapointe's reports to researchers in North America and Europe, a team led by planetary geologist Gordon Osinski from Western University conducted field research in October 2025. The team identified shatter cones—rock deformations caused by extreme pressure from an impact—providing definitive evidence of a cosmic collision.

The crater, which covers an area of approximately 490 square kilometers, is estimated to have formed roughly 390 million years ago.