Nighttime and Lighting

Nights are currently very dark, and visibility is especially limited during ship flight, creating unnecessary difficulty and negatively affecting gameplay.

On planets with moons, moonlight could provide natural illumination, making nights partially visible instead of completely dark. The brightness of the environment could dynamically change depending on the moon's phase and position in the sky. This would preserve realism while allowing players to navigate and observe their surroundings without relying entirely on spotlights.

Additionally, different planets could have varying nighttime brightness levels based on how their atmospheres reflect and scatter light. This would give each planet a more unique and immersive nighttime experience.

On the player side, a dark adaptation system could be introduced. After spending some time in a dark environment, the player's vision would gradually adjust, making it easier to distinguish terrain and objects. This would keep nights atmospheric and challenging while improving overall playability.

A night vision system integrated into character helmets or ship cockpits could also be a valuable addition. To maintain balance, night vision could come with drawbacks such as power consumption, image noise, reduced color accuracy, or limited viewing range. This would provide players with a useful tool for exploration, rescue operations, and nighttime flights without completely removing the challenges of darkness.