An insidious disease that afflicts oysters but is not harmful to humans is widespread in Edgartown Great Pond. While there are not yet any reports of die-offs, there is concern that at least a portion of the oysters in the pond will die.

A serious oyster disease that has afflicted Edgartown Great Pond for years is now in Tisbury Great Pond and it is expected to cause a major die-off in the months ahead.

The disease known as Dermo is not harmful to humans in any way but it is responsible for having caused the collapse of the oyster fisheries from Cape Cod to the Gulf of Mexico. The only cure, according to Rick Karney of the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group would be a frigid winter. The parasite that causes the disease can’t stand bitter cold water.

There is a new supernova in the night sky, too dim to see even with most astronomical telescopes. The nova was spotted back in May and it continues to gain the interest of astronomers. The nova is in Ursa Major, a constellation overhead, more familiarly known as the Big Dipper. The nova is in an area of the constellation, just above the Big Dipper's handle. Astronomers named it Supernova 2023ixf and it was discovered by a Japanese amateur astronomer Koichi Itagaki on May 19.

The night of summer solstice could be memorable for those who have clear skie. If you take the time after sunset look towards the west for two planets and a thin crescent moon hugging close to the horizon. Venus is the brightest of the two planets, a treasure and alone a memory. But when the sky gets dark enough look for the ruby red planet Mars nearby. The two planets and the crescent moon form a tight triangle. The three are in the zodiacal constellations Cancer and Leo.

Well after midnight tonight you'll see the last quarter moon rising in east with a companion planet. The ringed planet Saturn is right next to the moon. Prior to rising in the east the two were so close, only two degrees apart. They'll be separating this weekend. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Aquarius, a constellation we associate with late summer and early fall.

A brilliant full moon rises in southeastern sky tomorrow night, about the same time as sunset, or a little later. We call this the Summer Moon. In other places the moon is called Strawberry Moon. The moon is in the zodiacal constellation Scorpius, one of the southern most constellations in the zodiac. The moon will never get much altitude, but will stay close to the southern horizon through the night.

The red planet Mars moves through the Beehive Cluster in the nights ahead. If you can find Mars, with a pair of binoculars you can also find the Beehive Cluster.

The bright planet Venus has dominated our western evening sky this month and there is nothing in the sky to match - until next week.

Venus appears overhead in the west for quite a while after sunset. The planet is brilliant and closer to us than the Sun.

On Monday night the moon is joined by a thin crescent moon, to the viewer's right of the moon. The moon is fairly low so not everyone will see it.

Look again on Tuesday night and the moon will appear more southerly and higher above Venus. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Gemini.

There are few events at night that get one's emotions uplifted and feelings of wonder than the sight of Northern Lights.

The two evening planets, Mars and Venus are in the western sky. The two are appearing closer and closer. Venus is the brighter of the two and commands the most attention. Venus looks like an airplane with running lights on, ready for landing.

The red planet Mars is dull and distant. Mars has lost so much of its brilliance from a few months ago it now looks like a regular star. You've got to work a little bit to pick it out amid the stars in the constellation Gemini. Venus and Mars will come close together in June, so we've all got time to watch their movement.