It’s hard to believe, but it’s already Friday. I know, I know, thank goodness, right? Well, honestly, I’m just in awe of the way the year has already begun to fly by.

Speaking of fly-bys, though, British astronaut Tim Peake has begun photography lessons in space and shared some gorgeous shots of the Aurora Borealis via Twitter. Mental Floss has a good roundup of the tweets if you’d like to check it out.

Space exploration is out of the realm of possibility for many of us, but there may also be difficulties in reaching places such as Britain, especially as a teacher with a class full of students in the United States. But now, it is possible to explore Buckingham Palace from the comfort of your own living room through virtual reality. This is the first landmark of the UK to be included in Google’s Expeditions Pioneer Program, which focuses on the use of virtual reality as an educational tool.

A short hop away from England, Book Riot’s Tasha Brandstatter gave readers a tour of Ireland Outside of Dublin featuring some great spots going on my list whenever I get the chance to visit the country.

Also on Book Riot, last week I somehow missed their fantastic list of 7 Cozy Chicago Bookstores. Given my proximity to the metropolis, I’m beginning to feel the itchings of a road trip.

Of course, should you be looking for a suggestion on what to purchase at any of these shopping gems, look no further than Travel + Leisure’s list of The Best New Books to Inspire Your Wanderlust.

In general news… if you’re of the Midwest persuasion, mark May 20th-22nd on your calendars now because Planet Comicon in Kansas City just announced Stan Lee as a guest for this year.