Lecture 1: A Casual Talk on Classical Star Charts: A Tour of Western Constellation Myths

Speaker: Senior Astronomy Instructor Chiu Tai Fuk

Date: April 4, 2026 (Saturday)

Time：16:00-16:45

Fee: Free (A $50 deposit required)

Registration Deadline: April 1, 2026

This lecture will explore the history of the Western constellation system, drawing upon the museum's rare copperplate engravings. Starting with the Hevelius Star Chart from the Ptolemy Museum, it will discuss how, more than half a century after the Bayer Star Chart, Polish astronomers in the mid-17th century carried on a 1500-year-old constellation tradition. The lecture will meticulously examine what has been rejected, misinterpreted, and embellished. A casual discussion of the stories of classical Western constellations.

Lecture 2: Vermeer's Light and Shadow: How Optical Technology Helped Ancient Artists "Cheat"

Speaker: Chan Sin Yu, Oil Painting and Art History Instructor

Date: April 11, 2026 (Saturday)

Time：16:00-16:45

Fee: Free (A $50 deposit required)

Registration Deadline: April 7, 2026

Renowned painter David Hockney boldly proposes that Renaissance painters in the 15th century were already using optical instruments to assist in their painting, resulting in works far more realistic and detailed than those of the Middle Ages. Among the artists suspected of using optical instruments to "trace" their work is Vermeer, the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age painter and author of the famous painting *Girl with a Pearl Earring*. Let's explore this hidden history of the art world together: how did ancient painters "cheat"? Participants can experience painting using a realistically reproduced camera obscura in the exhibition hall.

Lecture Venue: Ptolemy Museum Exhibition Hall, Room 603, Block 1, Magnet Place, Kwai Fong

Language: Cantonese廣東話

Maximum Number of Participants per Session: 20：20人

After registration, the museum will contact you via email at info@ptolemymuseum.org.hk to collect a deposit of $50 per person per session, on a first-come, first-served basis. The deposit will be refunded in cash upon attendance.

Registration Link：https://forms.gle/odQN31qGLTzQJELV9

You are also welcome to register in the registration form for the weekend guided tour "Chasing the Light: The Vision of Western Classical Telescopes" from 15:00-15:30 on the same day to learn more about historical artifacts.「追光者：西方古典望遠鏡的視界」周末導賞團，了解更多歷史文物知識。