Jessý Potato
@markdownhandsup.bsky.social
The Girl with the Star Wars Tattoo. Recovering geoscientist. 56 countries. I have opinions & adventures. Reykjavík. KC born; SG bred. Founder: www.sidequesticeland.com
The 3rd Icelandic Santa (yule lad) is coming tonight.In English, they've translated his name to simply "Stubby." In Iceland, we call him Stúfur.
He's very short and he sneaks into your kitchen to steal pots and pans so as to lick the old food crusts off them!
He's very short and he sneaks into your kitchen to steal pots and pans so as to lick the old food crusts off them!
December 13, 2025 at 5:49 PM
The 3rd Icelandic Santa (yule lad) is coming tonight.In English, they've translated his name to simply "Stubby." In Iceland, we call him Stúfur.
He's very short and he sneaks into your kitchen to steal pots and pans so as to lick the old food crusts off them!
He's very short and he sneaks into your kitchen to steal pots and pans so as to lick the old food crusts off them!
I get asked all the time if you can see the northern lights from town. On a good night: absolutely!
Tonight was supposed to be completely socked in with clouds and the city is extra bright with Christmas cheer. But, voila!
#northernlights #aurora
#reykjavik #iceland
Tonight was supposed to be completely socked in with clouds and the city is extra bright with Christmas cheer. But, voila!
#northernlights #aurora
#reykjavik #iceland
December 12, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I get asked all the time if you can see the northern lights from town. On a good night: absolutely!
Tonight was supposed to be completely socked in with clouds and the city is extra bright with Christmas cheer. But, voila!
#northernlights #aurora
#reykjavik #iceland
Tonight was supposed to be completely socked in with clouds and the city is extra bright with Christmas cheer. But, voila!
#northernlights #aurora
#reykjavik #iceland
Tonight the 2nd Icelandic Santa (yule lad) comes down from the mountains. It's Gilljagaur, or Gulley Gawk in English.
He hides in gullies and lava cracks, waiting for local farmers to get distracted, so he can sneak into barns and steal milk. Santa chaos ensues!
#iceland #christmas #culture
He hides in gullies and lava cracks, waiting for local farmers to get distracted, so he can sneak into barns and steal milk. Santa chaos ensues!
#iceland #christmas #culture
December 12, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Tonight the 2nd Icelandic Santa (yule lad) comes down from the mountains. It's Gilljagaur, or Gulley Gawk in English.
He hides in gullies and lava cracks, waiting for local farmers to get distracted, so he can sneak into barns and steal milk. Santa chaos ensues!
#iceland #christmas #culture
He hides in gullies and lava cracks, waiting for local farmers to get distracted, so he can sneak into barns and steal milk. Santa chaos ensues!
#iceland #christmas #culture
First Icelandic Santa arrives tonight! Jólasveinninn (the yule lads) are a bunch of mischievous brothers that come down from the mountains, leave presents in kids’ shoes, and commit mayhem.
Tonight it's Stekkjastaur. In English, Sheep-Cote Clod or Gimpy. He's got a peg leg and harasses sheep.
Tonight it's Stekkjastaur. In English, Sheep-Cote Clod or Gimpy. He's got a peg leg and harasses sheep.
December 11, 2025 at 8:38 PM
First Icelandic Santa arrives tonight! Jólasveinninn (the yule lads) are a bunch of mischievous brothers that come down from the mountains, leave presents in kids’ shoes, and commit mayhem.
Tonight it's Stekkjastaur. In English, Sheep-Cote Clod or Gimpy. He's got a peg leg and harasses sheep.
Tonight it's Stekkjastaur. In English, Sheep-Cote Clod or Gimpy. He's got a peg leg and harasses sheep.
I've been struck down with whatever the virus du jour is, but the worst part about being sick in Iceland in the winter is you invariably miss the whole day.
Sun is rising past 11:00 now and setting at almost 15:30. By solstice that will shrink by almost half an hour more. I'll never get used to it.
Sun is rising past 11:00 now and setting at almost 15:30. By solstice that will shrink by almost half an hour more. I'll never get used to it.
December 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I've been struck down with whatever the virus du jour is, but the worst part about being sick in Iceland in the winter is you invariably miss the whole day.
Sun is rising past 11:00 now and setting at almost 15:30. By solstice that will shrink by almost half an hour more. I'll never get used to it.
Sun is rising past 11:00 now and setting at almost 15:30. By solstice that will shrink by almost half an hour more. I'll never get used to it.
A very well-timed comment reminded me of my favorite subset of aurora photography: with the local volcano.
Kilauea may be a spectacle & I know it's not a competition, but it doesn't have auroras like we do.
Hope the commenter can make their bucket list item a reality soon! #northernlights #volcano
Kilauea may be a spectacle & I know it's not a competition, but it doesn't have auroras like we do.
Hope the commenter can make their bucket list item a reality soon! #northernlights #volcano
My next bucket list box to tick with regards to that specific endeavor is to get a better camera 😂
December 8, 2025 at 6:06 PM
A very well-timed comment reminded me of my favorite subset of aurora photography: with the local volcano.
Kilauea may be a spectacle & I know it's not a competition, but it doesn't have auroras like we do.
Hope the commenter can make their bucket list item a reality soon! #northernlights #volcano
Kilauea may be a spectacle & I know it's not a competition, but it doesn't have auroras like we do.
Hope the commenter can make their bucket list item a reality soon! #northernlights #volcano
Genuinely, my little scientist heart cracks open daily here. Such beauty and wonder.
Lava fields? ✅
Northern lights? ✅
Heavenly bodies? ✅
Whimsy and joy? ✅
#iceland #northernlights #aurora
Lava fields? ✅
Northern lights? ✅
Heavenly bodies? ✅
Whimsy and joy? ✅
#iceland #northernlights #aurora
December 7, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Genuinely, my little scientist heart cracks open daily here. Such beauty and wonder.
Lava fields? ✅
Northern lights? ✅
Heavenly bodies? ✅
Whimsy and joy? ✅
#iceland #northernlights #aurora
Lava fields? ✅
Northern lights? ✅
Heavenly bodies? ✅
Whimsy and joy? ✅
#iceland #northernlights #aurora
Today in #caturday news:
Diego the Cat, famous neighbor staple of the Skeifan district here in Reykjavík, who was mercilessly catnapped and rescued by police swat team last year, paid an early visit to the local supermarket this morning. Here he is enjoying some fine Icelandic tap water.
#iceland
Diego the Cat, famous neighbor staple of the Skeifan district here in Reykjavík, who was mercilessly catnapped and rescued by police swat team last year, paid an early visit to the local supermarket this morning. Here he is enjoying some fine Icelandic tap water.
#iceland
December 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The Sidequest: Iceland Aurora Wrapped 2025
What a year! 💜💚🤍
What a year! 💜💚🤍
December 5, 2025 at 12:45 PM
The Sidequest: Iceland Aurora Wrapped 2025
What a year! 💜💚🤍
What a year! 💜💚🤍
So many new followers; thought I'd say hi and answer questions 👋🏼
I'm Jessý, scientist & founder of Sidequest: Iceland (launching soon!) We do travel for nerds (yes, nerds.) We have tours w/ scientist guides.
The biggest #northernlights question we get: why are there so many big auroras right now?
I'm Jessý, scientist & founder of Sidequest: Iceland (launching soon!) We do travel for nerds (yes, nerds.) We have tours w/ scientist guides.
The biggest #northernlights question we get: why are there so many big auroras right now?
December 4, 2025 at 11:50 AM
So many new followers; thought I'd say hi and answer questions 👋🏼
I'm Jessý, scientist & founder of Sidequest: Iceland (launching soon!) We do travel for nerds (yes, nerds.) We have tours w/ scientist guides.
The biggest #northernlights question we get: why are there so many big auroras right now?
I'm Jessý, scientist & founder of Sidequest: Iceland (launching soon!) We do travel for nerds (yes, nerds.) We have tours w/ scientist guides.
The biggest #northernlights question we get: why are there so many big auroras right now?
Friends, vikings, countrymen: lend me your eyes. May I present what just happened an hour ago in Iceland?
It was an early, short substorm, but it was a good one. Literal space weather!
#northernlights #aurora
It was an early, short substorm, but it was a good one. Literal space weather!
#northernlights #aurora
December 3, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Friends, vikings, countrymen: lend me your eyes. May I present what just happened an hour ago in Iceland?
It was an early, short substorm, but it was a good one. Literal space weather!
#northernlights #aurora
It was an early, short substorm, but it was a good one. Literal space weather!
#northernlights #aurora
I had the honor of filming a documentary about Iceland's rivers this autumn with the Art as Air crew from NYC. If you have 12 minutes, want to see beautiful aerial photography of Iceland and learn about Iceland's water, please enjoy!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbaS...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbaS...
Arteries of the Earth: Iceland
YouTube video by Art As Air
m.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I had the honor of filming a documentary about Iceland's rivers this autumn with the Art as Air crew from NYC. If you have 12 minutes, want to see beautiful aerial photography of Iceland and learn about Iceland's water, please enjoy!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbaS...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbaS...
I'm going through my back-catalog of aurora pics for my upcoming side quest website, and still in awe of some of the light shows we've gotten over the past two years during this solar maximum cycle.
This was from mid April in Iceland this year. #northernlights
#theothermidnightsun (science joke)
This was from mid April in Iceland this year. #northernlights
#theothermidnightsun (science joke)
December 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I'm going through my back-catalog of aurora pics for my upcoming side quest website, and still in awe of some of the light shows we've gotten over the past two years during this solar maximum cycle.
This was from mid April in Iceland this year. #northernlights
#theothermidnightsun (science joke)
This was from mid April in Iceland this year. #northernlights
#theothermidnightsun (science joke)
Reykjavík is at her best in fresh falling snow (just not the plowing after)
The scene: just before midnight, Saturday night, post dance floor frolic down the main street.
#snow #nightphotography
#reykjavik #iceland
The scene: just before midnight, Saturday night, post dance floor frolic down the main street.
#snow #nightphotography
#reykjavik #iceland
November 30, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Reykjavík is at her best in fresh falling snow (just not the plowing after)
The scene: just before midnight, Saturday night, post dance floor frolic down the main street.
#snow #nightphotography
#reykjavik #iceland
The scene: just before midnight, Saturday night, post dance floor frolic down the main street.
#snow #nightphotography
#reykjavik #iceland
What do auroras look like to the naked eye and can you see them within city limits?
Well here's a photo from my balcony in central Reykjavík, just 20 mins ago (2:00 AM).
This is active substorm conditions. Aurora w/ 3sec shutter, left; screengrab video (closer to reality), right.
#northernlights
Well here's a photo from my balcony in central Reykjavík, just 20 mins ago (2:00 AM).
This is active substorm conditions. Aurora w/ 3sec shutter, left; screengrab video (closer to reality), right.
#northernlights
November 28, 2025 at 2:40 AM
What do auroras look like to the naked eye and can you see them within city limits?
Well here's a photo from my balcony in central Reykjavík, just 20 mins ago (2:00 AM).
This is active substorm conditions. Aurora w/ 3sec shutter, left; screengrab video (closer to reality), right.
#northernlights
Well here's a photo from my balcony in central Reykjavík, just 20 mins ago (2:00 AM).
This is active substorm conditions. Aurora w/ 3sec shutter, left; screengrab video (closer to reality), right.
#northernlights
Amazing photos from NASA of comets Lemon & SWAN show the towering ribbons of pink-red aurora: easy to see why it's those colors of lights people at lower latitudes usually see, as they are the ones higher in the atmosphere.
Simply gorgeous :)
#aurora #northernlights
www.popsci.com/science/come...
Simply gorgeous :)
#aurora #northernlights
www.popsci.com/science/come...
November 27, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Amazing photos from NASA of comets Lemon & SWAN show the towering ribbons of pink-red aurora: easy to see why it's those colors of lights people at lower latitudes usually see, as they are the ones higher in the atmosphere.
Simply gorgeous :)
#aurora #northernlights
www.popsci.com/science/come...
Simply gorgeous :)
#aurora #northernlights
www.popsci.com/science/come...
So, while I have you here Bluesky, if you like my aurora content, might I interest you in some volcano content? My job is leading private science side quests in Iceland to learn about northern lights, geology, and of course, volcanoes! Genuinely the coolest day (& night) job ever.
#volcano #science
#volcano #science
November 25, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Feels like the only posts of mine that go viral are the ones with my northern lights photography. So if you're interested in chasing lights in Iceland with a scientist on a side quest one evening, let me know.
We can talk about Kp v Hp, solar cycles, aurora ovals, all of it!
#northernlights #aurora
We can talk about Kp v Hp, solar cycles, aurora ovals, all of it!
#northernlights #aurora
November 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Feels like the only posts of mine that go viral are the ones with my northern lights photography. So if you're interested in chasing lights in Iceland with a scientist on a side quest one evening, let me know.
We can talk about Kp v Hp, solar cycles, aurora ovals, all of it!
#northernlights #aurora
We can talk about Kp v Hp, solar cycles, aurora ovals, all of it!
#northernlights #aurora
To build off earlier posts: confirmed sighting of the 11/11 aurora now as far south as El Salvador. Picture from their Pacific coast attached below in thread, one of my own photos on this first post.
But why were these northern lights seen in here and not Africa or Hawaii?
#aurora #northernlights
But why were these northern lights seen in here and not Africa or Hawaii?
#aurora #northernlights
November 20, 2025 at 4:40 PM
To build off earlier posts: confirmed sighting of the 11/11 aurora now as far south as El Salvador. Picture from their Pacific coast attached below in thread, one of my own photos on this first post.
But why were these northern lights seen in here and not Africa or Hawaii?
#aurora #northernlights
But why were these northern lights seen in here and not Africa or Hawaii?
#aurora #northernlights
I'm not just an online science personality (feels weird to say that), but I'm building a travel company for nerds here in Iceland. Yes, nerds.
What's your special interest? We will have a tour or event for you!
Launching in a few short weeks for pre-sale 🩵
What's your special interest? We will have a tour or event for you!
Launching in a few short weeks for pre-sale 🩵
November 17, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I'm not just an online science personality (feels weird to say that), but I'm building a travel company for nerds here in Iceland. Yes, nerds.
What's your special interest? We will have a tour or event for you!
Launching in a few short weeks for pre-sale 🩵
What's your special interest? We will have a tour or event for you!
Launching in a few short weeks for pre-sale 🩵
The @accuweather.com acct hasn't posted here on Bluesky in two months but they did put this map together on their other socials, showing verified shots of the 11/11 aurora in all 50 states. Solar Cycle 25 has defied expectations and has been giving us a show for a year and a half.
#northernlights
#northernlights
November 13, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The @accuweather.com acct hasn't posted here on Bluesky in two months but they did put this map together on their other socials, showing verified shots of the 11/11 aurora in all 50 states. Solar Cycle 25 has defied expectations and has been giving us a show for a year and a half.
#northernlights
#northernlights
Wow, furthest south confirmed sighting of the 11/11 aurora (that I have found) is in Zacatecas, Mexico, north of Guadalajara. Phenomenonal!
Low on the horizon, pink/red in color, these types of auroras are very high in the atmosphere and thus is why they can be seen so far south.
#northernlights
Low on the horizon, pink/red in color, these types of auroras are very high in the atmosphere and thus is why they can be seen so far south.
#northernlights
November 13, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Wow, furthest south confirmed sighting of the 11/11 aurora (that I have found) is in Zacatecas, Mexico, north of Guadalajara. Phenomenonal!
Low on the horizon, pink/red in color, these types of auroras are very high in the atmosphere and thus is why they can be seen so far south.
#northernlights
Low on the horizon, pink/red in color, these types of auroras are very high in the atmosphere and thus is why they can be seen so far south.
#northernlights
Made a schoolgirl error: went to a new lagoon here in Iceland so I could soak and see (the aurora). Forgot it's pretty hard to see the northern lights when it's ungodly steamy!
Fled the lagoon, found some lights. Bz has been north most of the day, so unsure how lower latitude viewing will be.
Fled the lagoon, found some lights. Bz has been north most of the day, so unsure how lower latitude viewing will be.
November 12, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Made a schoolgirl error: went to a new lagoon here in Iceland so I could soak and see (the aurora). Forgot it's pretty hard to see the northern lights when it's ungodly steamy!
Fled the lagoon, found some lights. Bz has been north most of the day, so unsure how lower latitude viewing will be.
Fled the lagoon, found some lights. Bz has been north most of the day, so unsure how lower latitude viewing will be.
Tonight's northern lights display was a G4 magnetic storm, with Kp reaching 8. Confirmed sightings currently as far south as north Florida and into and Louisiana. Unfortunately the next big wave predicted (as of now) to hit today (Nov 12) at 15:00 GMT or 10:00 EST.
#aurora #northernlights
#aurora #northernlights
November 12, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Tonight's northern lights display was a G4 magnetic storm, with Kp reaching 8. Confirmed sightings currently as far south as north Florida and into and Louisiana. Unfortunately the next big wave predicted (as of now) to hit today (Nov 12) at 15:00 GMT or 10:00 EST.
#aurora #northernlights
#aurora #northernlights
Northern Lights really popped off here in Iceland, and apparently everywhere else, as evidenced by social media feeds. Expect more for the next few days.
#aurora #spaceweather #northernlights
#aurora #spaceweather #northernlights
November 12, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Northern Lights really popped off here in Iceland, and apparently everywhere else, as evidenced by social media feeds. Expect more for the next few days.
#aurora #spaceweather #northernlights
#aurora #spaceweather #northernlights