Photos: COC Star Party at Canyon Country campus

Katherine Quezada
October 17, 2026
5:23 pm

The College of the Canyons welcomed community members to a night under the stars embracing science and student showcases during its fall Star Party on Friday, held at the Canyon Country campus.

Free and open to the entire community, the event had hands on activities for children, and featured a keynote presentation by Dave Margrave, chief engineer of the RS-25 Rocket Engine program at L3Harris Technologies.

Attendees could also explore the night sky through telescopes with guidance from members of the Local Group Astronomy Club of Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley Astronomy Club. The evening also featured science updates from COC faculty and students, including the COC Aerospace and Sciences Team.

College of the Canyons student Roy Watson, teaches guests how to use a pipette in laboratory settings during the College of the Canyons fall Star Party a free community event embracing science and student showcases, on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 at the Canyon Country campus. Katherine Quezada/The Signal

People take a look at the solar system and stars through telescopes during the College of the Canyons fall Star Party a free community event embracing science and student showcases, on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 at the Canyon Country campus. Katherine Quezada/The Signal

Violet Mendoza,3, paints a petri dish mock painting, mimicking the look of living microorganism during the College of the Canyons fall Star Party a free community event embracing science and student showcases, on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 at the Canyon Country campus. Katherine Quezada/The Signal

COC student Tina L. (left) paints Emma Champigny face during the College of the Canyons fall Star Party a free community event embracing science and student showcases, on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 at the Canyon Country campus. Katherine Quezada/The Signal

Charles Garcia with the Local Group Astronomy Club of Santa Clarita looks into his telescope to get a better view of the moon during the College of the Canyons fall Star Party a free community event embracing science and student showcases, on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 at the Canyon Country campus. Katherine Quezada/The Signal

The College of the Canyons hosts its fall Star Party, a free community event embracing science and student showcases, on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 at the Canyon Country campus. Katherine Quezada/The Signal

Robbie, 7, looks at science stickers placed on a space ship made out of carboard for children to take photos with during the College of the Canyons fall Star Party a free community event embracing science and student showcases, on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 at the Canyon Country campus. Katherine Quezada/The Signal

Dahlia Andrade, 7, wears a large lab coat during the College of the Canyons fall Star Party a free community event embracing science and student showcases, on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 at the Canyon Country campus. Katherine Quezada/The Signal

Katherine Quezada

Katherine has been a staff writer and photographer for The Signal since 2023. Have a news tip? Reach out to Katherine at [email protected] or on Instagram @Katsperspective.