* The Sun is much larger than the Moon. The Sun is a star, and the Moon is a relatively small satellite.

* The Sun and Moon are in different orbits. The Moon orbits the Earth, and the Earth orbits the Sun.

* Solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth. During a solar eclipse, the Moon appears to cover the Sun, but it's just passing in front of it.

Think of it this way: Imagine you're holding a tiny ball (the Moon) in front of a much larger, distant ball (the Sun). The tiny ball can block your view of the larger ball, but it's not actually behind it.