# A Quebecer noticed a strange circular pit on Google Maps while planning a trip; scientists have now confi

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-20 13:07 UTC · Category: Science

## Executive Summary
An amateur astronomer in Quebec discovered a 390-million-year-old meteorite crater using Google Maps while planning a trip.

## Intelligence Brief
A resident of Quebec discovered a massive circular pit while using Google Maps to plan a trip. The indentation, which initially appeared as a strange circular feature on the digital map, has been identified by scientists as a meteorite crater. According to reports from The Times of India and The Weather Network, the discovery was made by an amateur astronomer who noticed the anomaly during the trip-planning process. This geological feature is now confirmed to be a scar left by an ancient meteorite impact that occurred roughly 390 million years ago. Detailed coverage of the event appears across several scientific and general news outlets. Smithsonian Magazine reports that the amateur astronomer's observation of the indentation led to the confirmation of the site's origin.


Space also highlighted the discovery, describing the site as a massive crater and a scar from an ancient impact. The reporting emphasizes the role of accessible satellite imagery and digital mapping tools in allowing non-professionals to identify significant geological anomalies that may have previously gone unnoticed by the wider scientific community. To understand the significance of this discovery, it is necessary to note the age of the feature. The crater dates back 390 million years, placing its origin in a distant geological era. The fact that such a large structure remained undocumented or unrecognized until a citizen using Google Maps spotted it underscores the intersection of modern technology and amateur science. The scale of the crater is described as massive, suggesting a high-energy impact event that left a permanent mark on the Quebec landscape over hundreds of millions of years.


Future developments will likely center on the scientific analysis of the site. While the provided coverage confirms the age and nature of the crater, it does not specify further excavation plans or detailed mineralogical studies. Observers will be looking for more data from the scientists who confirmed the find. The sequence of events began with a casual search on Google Maps and progressed to scientific validation, leaving the site as a point of interest for both researchers and the public in Quebec.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Smithsonian Magazine | An Amateur Astronomer Using Google Maps Spotted a Strange Indentation. It Turned Out to Be a Meteorite Crater From 390 Million Years Ago | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwJBVV95cUxNUE1BUkhLNXlGODl6TGJLRXNnSDRoODBCeWZpMlBDeEJ4QVo3UnFoNnVZTlotc3JLWktmVE5id19uVFVEUlR1aFhZb0h4LTcyWTNRUW9NakJJcEZic2hLNGc5TzBJUnIwd1htYU9aY2ZEeEdNVXE2LTVtTGlYcFNrdXhOdzRvVXlXNlV3U0hUNXhaQXJGS2NjblNpZlBTc3gzZ3VLNTJRdzFVZlNHclVCRWItZS1PUEFqNzBwMzlzbFRoZUNzQ1lWS2Z0U1MwdFBCaGVRdXc1ODFjQnpXN3dqSlhZLUNrbEt2cWRqVkJDbWplVVFMVWlPZ1FIZ2tpYmFFYlRJRW1xNDdlQ1Vfdk1SekZzWWJQczQ?oc=5) |
| Space | A massive crater was spotted on Google Earth. It could be a scar from an ancient meteorite impact | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizwFBVV95cUxNaW5RaEtIZnJvb0RvMVNDUmhjbk5WR0xmQlFIY2REdmxvbl84a3hoM3NTRkk4bkRxajdYU1JHQmZmTnpabVdlbzl0anFZRW5IcHJuY2hvRGk1TV9pSUdCUDZubTRvY2RqMzRNT0cyTVRiSWhhS2NjTE9oTmZjenVib2VfampYQjc0LXJnSVVCLUhPWUxYZm5nNEx5OWJlRElReG5SbEtKWU9Ob3AtRVRFWE1JX0FWRXhjY0dFUGx6ZnVkajJ2T2xrV290MTJQSWc?oc=5) |
| The Weather Network | Google Maps leads Quebec man to 390-million-year-old meteor crater | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2gFBVV95cUxQY2tka0p4MzBrdFJLbXg1MkRQclBRSFVGT3pVdlpsRXVydnJuTkY0MUpMczlKdkVLZFVUdU5ZNkl4amVudFJJenJER0ZaaTQ5RWpnVE1pcTdTYUdaNXpFM2w5aldjRFZ5cUVVRmNoQ2c4VVNYMWhDdEQxcEZIZG5xNzZyRWp4ay1GMXZ3clZQazh5elJrSjdOMTRKWk1lbXlHLXJvdm5tZElDZzVRUTJDalJSa09BTGprdmVPUGJkdDJhTkl1Uk9kZ084ODgxWlpxcy1Ma1VwbUROUQ?oc=5) |
| The Times of India | A Quebecer noticed a strange circular pit on Google Maps while planning a trip; scientists have now confi | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0AJBVV95cUxQX2tZUlZZLVI2czFZR3FtQ1VvbWpETTRpQmN5V0EyLUhxc2dFM0w1OUdQUGk1RGY1MFFYeHdBRVJqcTdSWW9NZ2xqcGJwZVhqN3h3VHZtWHRoOG1XTVd3X2x0dmRkU3hUZW4wMk5QZ2Q5TWt0LTVzZzZYZkhUc0diTmJSbUhIdE82OHRWMUdNY2FZbHpjMFpKdG9HZ1ZvRFAtbmtHRFd5SWw4ZWRVMEN2TU9JazlfSTVFY21VX2NidS1QZEt3UE1LUTdRejB2aW9XOWc1ZzJ6Y1VsbGg0Sks0Ym1BTERGVkxHNHNjdUI0cjFVY2oxQTU5VXNVVjJnTTZzcFRfT1Q0U3hZSmlzbnNkdnFlZFJsLS0tdDhNOFdXeWs4TWdyMjYtTmVKSWxzSHViX0J5b0FIUWx3NG81NFFqSUhtUUNuVEdseVdHNk1UVDLSAdYCQVV) |

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