Calling this now. Looking at this screen over here:

http://static.elderscrollsonline.com/assets/img/cms/media/screenshots/5479c3d757cbf36c97.jpg

And no, northern lights do not illuminate the ground like that. I could grab you an photo of how a night actually looks in the north, but sadly my camera does not support such darkness.

+1

The night on Screenshot svcks. WTB Morrowind nights.

There's no telling what time of night this is. It could be just a dark evening or it could be the beginnings of dawn.

True what Madhog said but let's say that -is- as dark as the day/night cycle gets then yes; it needs to get a lot darker.

Northern lights during evening when the sun hasn't set, or visible at dawn, when the sun is rising? I wish.

Edit: Just googled it up, plausible, however, I've never witnessed such thing (impossible to see with an naked eye).

Fair enough but remember this is pre-alpha stuff. In order to show off the game the devs may have altered the brightness. Closer to the release date I am sure they will darken it more.

Yeah, I'd much prefer nights that made sneaking in PvP viable.

*cough* Darkfall *cough*