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
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
One of a geologist's worst nightmares in back-to-back posts.
Science infrastructure funding saves lives.
Science communication and education saves lives.
Science saves lives.
Science infrastructure funding saves lives.
Science communication and education saves lives.
Science saves lives.
November 9, 2025 at 1:29 PM
One of a geologist's worst nightmares in back-to-back posts.
Science infrastructure funding saves lives.
Science communication and education saves lives.
Science saves lives.
Science infrastructure funding saves lives.
Science communication and education saves lives.
Science saves lives.
Just in time for #caturday, it's Gary's 2nd birthday today. I call him Houdini because he's somehow managed to make over a dozen bouncy balls disappear over the past two years.
A big happy birthday to this amazing cat, the sweetest boy, my Maine Coon runt ♥️🎂
A big happy birthday to this amazing cat, the sweetest boy, my Maine Coon runt ♥️🎂
November 8, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Just in time for #caturday, it's Gary's 2nd birthday today. I call him Houdini because he's somehow managed to make over a dozen bouncy balls disappear over the past two years.
A big happy birthday to this amazing cat, the sweetest boy, my Maine Coon runt ♥️🎂
A big happy birthday to this amazing cat, the sweetest boy, my Maine Coon runt ♥️🎂
As I'm starting to build my company (short pitch: travel & events for nerds here in Iceland), I'm beginning to design some early content for the site.
And on the first things I've been asked in almost a decade here is: when is the best time to visit. Well, that depends on your goals for the trip!
And on the first things I've been asked in almost a decade here is: when is the best time to visit. Well, that depends on your goals for the trip!
November 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
As I'm starting to build my company (short pitch: travel & events for nerds here in Iceland), I'm beginning to design some early content for the site.
And on the first things I've been asked in almost a decade here is: when is the best time to visit. Well, that depends on your goals for the trip!
And on the first things I've been asked in almost a decade here is: when is the best time to visit. Well, that depends on your goals for the trip!
Tomorrow night's full moon is the closest full moon of the year. Here we see the waxing gibbous rise over Reykjavík this afternoon.
What I love about this time of year is how pronounced the earth's shadow and the pinky-peach Venus Belt become in the sky at dawn and twilight.
What I love about this time of year is how pronounced the earth's shadow and the pinky-peach Venus Belt become in the sky at dawn and twilight.
November 4, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Tomorrow night's full moon is the closest full moon of the year. Here we see the waxing gibbous rise over Reykjavík this afternoon.
What I love about this time of year is how pronounced the earth's shadow and the pinky-peach Venus Belt become in the sky at dawn and twilight.
What I love about this time of year is how pronounced the earth's shadow and the pinky-peach Venus Belt become in the sky at dawn and twilight.
Forgot to update you all on how much snow we actually received here in Reykjavík, and then how quickly in melted.
First picture is what I shared mid-day Tuesday. Second picture was afternoon Tuesday. Third picture was this weekend.
Still can't open my door, which is impeding my aurora scouting!
First picture is what I shared mid-day Tuesday. Second picture was afternoon Tuesday. Third picture was this weekend.
Still can't open my door, which is impeding my aurora scouting!
November 4, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Forgot to update you all on how much snow we actually received here in Reykjavík, and then how quickly in melted.
First picture is what I shared mid-day Tuesday. Second picture was afternoon Tuesday. Third picture was this weekend.
Still can't open my door, which is impeding my aurora scouting!
First picture is what I shared mid-day Tuesday. Second picture was afternoon Tuesday. Third picture was this weekend.
Still can't open my door, which is impeding my aurora scouting!