Dark is dark, scopes can only transmit available light and do not “gather” light, I repeat scopes do not “gather” light.
That's not true.
Your eyeball might open to 7mm if you're young and gather 7mm worth of light.
A scope with a 56mm objective will gather 56mm worth of light and concentrate it down to a smaller exit pupil based on the magnification.
One can see much better in very low light conditions through a high quality scope than with the naked eye because the optic is gathering more light and concentrating it to a brighter smaller exit pupil.
Actually, a scope can only transmit light equal to the scope tube... Not the objective lens.
If you have a 56mm objective and a 30, tube, you get 30mm's worth of light. Brightness has to do with the lens' used in the scope.
While some scopes are clearer than others, they don't have the mystical ability to mysteriously "gather light".
