Final answer:
The most effective nighttime collision avoidance technique is using peripheral vision to scan using small sectors and off-center viewing, leveraging the eye's sensitivity to light and movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most effective method of scanning for other aircraft for collision avoidance during nighttime hours is to use peripheral vision by scanning small sectors and utilizing off-center viewing. As the human eye has a very short integration time, it takes only a fraction of a second to add light energy together before sending the image to the brain. Hence, when utilizing off-center viewing at night, one is able to detect faint sources of light more effectively, similar to how astronomers use long exposure times to detect faint objects in the cosmos. Using peripheral vision is advantageous as it is sensitive to light and movement, which are crucial for spotting other aircraft at night.