As a rural sort, I’d like to make the point that the full moon is bright enough to read by, and to see some colours.
Townies think the night is dark because they’re dazzled by street lights and cars and never have working night vision.
In the absence of artificial light, it only gets truly dark when you can’t see the moon or sun.
And even where I grew up, there was always enough light in the sky that the galaxy was difficult to see. Go somewhere truly out of the way and it’s like a shining belt all across the sky. That’s what real human night vision is like.
From “Sense and Sensibility”, by Jane Austen:
“[Sir John Middleton] had been to several families that morning, in hopes of procuring some addition to their number, but it was moonlight, and every body was full of engagements.”
The pdf here is well worth reading! Thanks.