Stargazing can be a magical, soothing experience – you just have to know where, and when to look. Throughout January and February there are a number of exciting astrological events taking place, which can be enjoyed from the safety of your own home. Amateur stargazers should note that early evenings this week provide a chance to see Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, and therefore the hardest to see. Look low down in the southwest about 30 – 45 minutes after your local sunset for a little twinkling point shining in the twilight glow. Mercury reaches its greatest elongation on January 24 which is when you will get the best view of the rocky planet. Periods when there is no bright moonlight give the best chance to see the beautiful Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, so any time in January up to about the 20th, and from February 4 – 20, are good. You’ll need a good clear view to the north, and a nice dark site. We never know when aurorae are going to appear, but websites such as www.spaceweather.com give short-notice predictions as best they can, and you can sign up for aurora alerts to your phone.

Mars and the Moon are close together in the night sky next week from January 20 – 21. Mars is still visible throughout January but keep an eye out on the evening of January 20 looking south-west, for the Red Planet glowing to the upper left of the first quarter moon. Finally, the International Space Station can be seen in the early evening skies from January 22 – February 3. It looks like a very bright moving star, generally moving from the west over to the south, and sometimes on towards the east. The times vary each evening; visit www.heavens-above.com for up-to-date information. (Many thanks to Discover Northern Ireland, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, the Irish Astronomical Association, and OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory for this advice.)

How is Veganuary working out? If you are in need of new ideas do pick up a copy of The Happy Health Plan. This is David and Stephen Flynn’s new book, published last week, which not only debunks the jargon behind vegan and plant-based versus wholefood, but also provides meal plans, shopping lists and tasty recipes all with the aim of keeping you fuller for longer, boosting energy and reducing cholesterol. I’ve enjoyed trying out their classic dishes from creamy carbonaras to Katsu curry and berry crumble. Another source of inspiration is Finn Ni Fhaolain (pictured). The marine scientist author and foodie lives, surfs, works and plays in the seaside town of Bundoran, Donegal. She also writes about sustainable living and cooking with lots of easy, effortless vegan recipes on her website www.saltwaterstories.me.

In need of a treat? One of Altar State’s curated yoga boxes might just help ease you into that downward dog. These boxes are a collaboration between The Space Between (a space for hot yoga, meditation and breath work in Dublin 2) and Altar State. The tools and treats by Irish producers are focused on playing with the senses. There is a choice of six boxes from Simple Things €70 to The Zenerator, €295, (pictured). Products include apple cider vinegar from Highbank Orchards, honey and beeswax candles from Brookfield Farm, wooly socks from Kathryn Davey, a HolderEight yoga mat, dark chocolate apple sticks by the Lismore Food Company, essential oils from The Nature of Things and notebook from Badly Made Books. www.thespacebetween.ie

If you are surviving lockdown with the help of caffeine and music, then this new opening should be on your radar. Wavetable is opening this month and is Ireland’s first boutique specialty coffee and record store. It’s a minimalist space inspired by Nordic design and will be operating as a takeaway initially, serving a range of specialty coffees and vegan cakes. To support Irish musicians, Wavetable is offering the store as an outlet to sell their records – Lankum and Junior Brother are some of the artists who will be stocked instore. Tucked away from the main Road in upper Drumcondra, Wavetable is located at 19C Millbourne Avenue. Why not pick up a coffee and enjoy it in the beautiful Griffith Park less than five minutes’ walk away? @wavetabledublin

Communion girls during a Corpus Christi procession, traffic and pedestrians on Grafton Street, children and adults heading for a swim at Seapoint, the round tower in Clondalkin, a bustling Earl Street and people gathered at the harbour in Dún Laoghaire are just some of the photographs of Dublin which are freely available online from the National Library of Ireland, otherwise known as “Ireland’s memory keeper”. This is part of a major project to digitise its collections (there are now some 60,000 images online). Another initiative is “Around the Island” encouraging people to engage with their local history using the Library’s online catalogue. This can be accessed via www.catalogue.nli.ie. Visitors are encouraged to share any interesting findings or observations on social media, using the hashtag #NLIonline.

As remote working has become the norm in most organisations, finding new ways to engage with staff and colleagues has never been more important. One way is through music and singing together (virtually). Cork International Choral Festival is calling on companies around Ireland and abroad to connect with their staff via its new “Choirworks” programme. This will offer the chance to learn to sing and form a choir, or improve their singing and existing workplace choir, through online interactive music lessons, workshops and team building activities. No prior experience is necessary. Each company choir registered on the programme will be assigned a choir leader who will put the singers through their paces. The “Choirworks” course includes weekly online training sessions, the provision of lyrics, music, backing tracks and even choreography, and professional sound mixing and video editing. At the end of the programme, each company will have a professional video of the song they have been learning together, ready for entry into the 2021 Cork International Choral Festival Workplace Choir of the Year Competition; www.corkchoral.ie.

The launch of a new personal brand and virtual styling workshop from whathappensnext aims to encourage professionals, business owners and creatives to shape their personal brand this year. Brand You: The Personal Branding and Virtual Styling Workshop is a two-part online personal branding boot camp tailored to accelerate personal growth. Created by brand communications expert Leona McDaid and fashion stylist and author Annmarie O’Connor (pictured above), the one-to-one virtual workshop enables participants to strategise their personal brand in a proactive and forward-thinking way. Participants will learn how to craft a strategy for their personal brand and then visually translate it into how they present themselves online and in real life. For more information and to book the workshop visit www.whathappensnext.ie.