Astronomer Shadia Habbal’s research focuses on the sun’s corona, which, outside several stationary observatories around the world, can only be observed during a total solar eclipse. Shadia, born and raised in Syria and now based at the University of Hawaii, has pioneered coronal research, and leads global expeditions to capture data during the one to two minutes of totality that comes with total solar eclipses—always a risky gamble because of the cost and chances of failure if there are clouds or other problems that prohibit clear imaging. During the August, 2017, eclipse (aka the Great American Eclipse), Shadia had teams at five western U. S. sites to maximize chances of good viewing and data; even so, there’s tremendous tension leading up to the brief period of totality, and tremendous euphoria when it ends, as recounted here. Photos of Shadia and her team, many of who are older adults (Shadia appear to be in her 60s), at work build to a gorgeous reveal of images of the sun’s corona near volume’s end. (Ages 10–14)