My experience with (partial) solar eclipses is distinctly different from yours. I find my eyes are very sensitive to the amount of sunlight, and the half-covered sun emitted (to my eyes) a distinctly dimmer quality of light. Even a slight haze produces, for me, a noticeable dimmunition in the intensity of the sunshine to my eyes and to my skin where the sun strikes it.

And notice too how the often typical high hazy clouds and contrails reduce the maximum attained temperature on winter days along the California coast. Yes, I know there are many other factors which affect local conditions, but all else being equal, less sun means lower temperatures, as well as cooler colors.

I guess we'll never know 'til we go, but I'll stick to my opinion that the reduced sunlight reaching Mars might have long-term psychological as well as physical effects on those subject to it.

Check with the Siberians. Experience has taught them that artificial sunlight has a positive effect on improving the moods of the denizens of that frozen land of little winter sunshine. Mars would be significantly more challenging, especially since electrical power would probably be at a premium.

Yes, on Mars our eyes might grow accomstomed to sunshine only - what is it? - 40% as intense as we get here on Earth, just as astronauts in orbit grow more or less accustomed to zero-g, while at the same time suffering the physical degenerations associated with it.

It would be interesting to see what kind of temperatures could be attained on Mars within a sealed environment which admitted the rays of the sun.

It's a wan light falls on that distant orb.

sp