A strange circle on satellite maps turned out to be a 390-million-year-old impact crater

An amateur astronomer in Quebec discovered a previously unrecognized impact crater while searching satellite maps for camping locations. The 25-kilometer-wide structure, now named Uhackatik, was confirmed by planetary geologist Gordon Osinski and his team during a challenging October 2025 expedition that found distinctive shatter cones—telltale signs of impact rather than volcanic activity. Analysis indicates the crater formed approximately 390 million years ago.

The discovery brings the number of confirmed impact structures on Earth to around 200, though geologists believe hundreds more remain hidden. Osinski noted that an equivalent modern impact in Quebec would cause regional devastation comparable to wiping out major cities and triggering global climate effects. The Meteoritical Society is conducting final verification of the findings.