I also just tried a mission in pitch dark. No moon. I dimmed the pit as much as I could (hud/mfds, outside lights off), weather sunny, with minimum clouds. altitude approx 6000. time was approx 1230am, season summer. I did not try it at more marginal dawn/dusk times. 4.37.2, Pico 4
What i noticed…
Simulated lights on the ground looked clear and bright
Stars also looked clear and bright.
Visibility ahead was pretty much flat black (as I would expect).
there is a general greyness rather than black background, but this is due to the headset panels, and its there even when looking into a dark pit. (We need to wait for micro led panels with local dimming to improve on that one)
For me the experience is very immersive, and apart from some minor artefacts from clouds, I’m not sure what I would want improved.
As there was little or no light in the scene, the lens ‘flare’ effect was non existent.
Others mileage will differ with different headsets and rigs.
As an aside, the most immersive experience I’ve had to date in VR is a BMS bad weather night ILS approach. The way the global illumination with the strobes lights up the clouds as you are passing through them, coupled with the fact that you are ‘enclosed’ in the headset (could never get the room dark enough with a 2d screen), with butter smooth frames, is something to be experienced to be believed.
I once again tip my hat to the devs.