He’s a natural-born search engine. A Canadian man researching an upcoming camping trip via Google Maps has uncovered what experts believe to be a gigantic crater — left by an ancient space rock. Joël Lapointe,

Earth sciences professor at Western University Dr Gordon Osinski told CBC that circular structures are often spotted on Google Earth or Google Maps, but nine times out of ten they turn out to be geological quirks, not craters. However, of the new discovery, he said: ‘It’s super exciting. It doesn’t happen too often.’

A man planning a camping trip using Google Maps ran across a uniquely curved spherical pit in Quebec and started asking questions. The site is now considered a “strong contender” to be a meteorite impact crater. Samples from the site reveal zircon, a mineral that commonly forms after a major impact event.

The team has already received samples from the site, and preliminary analysis reveals that at least one contains zircon, a mineral that transforms the intense pressure and heat of a meteorite impact. Mr Rochette said the discovery of such a site would be "major" since the last meteorite of this size was discovered in 2013.

Joël Lapointe was mapping his camping route on Google Maps when he noticed an odd circular pit in Quebec’s Côte-Nord region. Now, scientists are studying samples from the site with the hope of a 2025 field trip.