South African Man Captures Stunning Blood Moon Eclipse With Samsung S25 Ultra in Video

• A South African man has captured a stunning zoomed-in view of the Blood Moon lunar eclipse using the new Samsung S25 Ultra smartphone
• The footage showcased the moon's deep reddish glow and surface details in remarkable clarity, highlighting the phone's advanced camera capabilities
• The video has gone viral, sparking discussions about the accessibility of astrophotography and the evolving technology in smartphones that allows everyday people to capture celestial events

A South African man has left social media buzzing after capturing a breathtaking zoomed-in view of the recent Blood Moon lunar eclipse, all using the new Samsung S25 Ultra smartphone.

In the now-viral video, which the gentleman shared on his social media under the handle @larnelle, the guy can be seen adjusting his phone’s advanced camera to zoom directly onto the moon. The footage revealed the deep reddish glow of the lunar eclipse in remarkable clarity, highlighting craters and surface details that left many viewers stunned.

The Blood Moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow that gives the Moon its distinctive red hue. While the spectacle fascinated stargazers worldwide, this man’s use of the S25 Ultra impressed Mzansi with the remarkable power of smartphone cameras.

Social media users were quick to react, with many applauding both the celestial event and the phone’s technology.

The clip that was released on 7 September 2025 on TikTok also sparked discussions about how accessible astrophotography has become. With smartphones like the S25 Ultra offering advanced zoom and stabilisation features, everyday people can now capture the wonders of the night sky without expensive equipment.

For many, the social media user @larnelle's footage wasn’t just about showcasing the eclipse but also about highlighting how technology is evolving. His simple yet striking video inspired others to try capturing stars and planets themselves, proving that all it takes is timing, curiosity, and the right phone.

The Blood Moon sighting may have been rare, but thanks to the Samsung S25 Ultra, Mzansi got to witness it in spectacular detail.

SA reacts to stunning blood moon, captured with Samsung

The online community took to the comments to share their thoughts, saying:

Wayde Cyster said:

"Did you try it on your iPhone too? Please show us."

Melanin Quinn shared:

"It was orange at six, now it’s white. I am sitting outside waiting for it to change…..I think the ruling party ate the money for the Lunar eclipse."

Boitumelo Diale stated:

"I'm so sad and disappointed we have clouds here, and the eclipse or the moon is nowhere to be seen."

Cape Town Luxury Traveller expressed:

"Forever a Samsung Ultra girly."

Grace Mandivei commented:

"My Samsung has made me proud today."

Watch the video below:

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra specs and camera features

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra remains one of the top flagship phones this year. It was launched on 22 January 2025 and released in South Africa on 7 February. It comes with a 200 MP main camera and a 50 MP ultra-wide lens, plus a 50 MP periscope telephoto with 5x zoom and a 10 MP telephoto with 3x zoom. For selfies, it includes a 12 MP front-facing camera.

Samsung says the new ProVisual AI on the device boosts image quality, making it great for photography and video. At launch, the 256 GB model was priced at around R29,999 locally, but it is currently going for R28,999 on the company's website.

Other Briefly News stories about bizarre experiences

• Cape Town beach lit up in blue magic this week as glowing waves stunned locals. The ocean looked like something out of a dream.
• A man posted his ordeal after kayaking at sea and being swallowed by a whale in a TikTok video that went viral.
• People were in stitches after a man got excited to see a shark while standing on a rock until he slipped and fell right on it.
• One man who was trying to take a video of himself dancing ended up losing his phone to a body of water after eating.

Updated by Hilary Sekgota, Human Interest HOD at Briefly News.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News