USC’s resident astronomer Christopher Y. Go captured the total lunar eclipse on September 7–8, 2025 over Cebu City.

A total lunar eclipse happens when the Earth passes between the Moon and the Sun, and the Moon is entirely covered with the Earth’s shadow, or umbra. During totality, instead of the Moon disappearing completely behind the umbra, an effect called Rayleigh scattering turns the Moon’s color red, prompting many to call it a “blood moon.” (Rayleigh scattering is also primarily responsible for our blue sky during the day as well as red sunsets.)

Chris Go is a recognized lunar and planetary imager and earned worldwide accolades after he first reported the color change of Oval BA on the planet Jupiter on February 24, 2006, earning it the monicker “Red Jr.” after Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. Chris is also the founder of the USC Astronomical Society and currently teaches an elective course on astronomy offered by the USC Department of Physics.