ELI5: Why does the sky get dark during a solar eclipse?

Imagine it's a sunny day, like when you're playing in the park. The Sun is a giant lightbulb way up in the sky, shining light all around.

Now, think of the Moon as a friend who sometimes likes to play hide-and-seek.

Normally, the Sun's light shines down to us, and that's why it's bright.

But during a solar eclipse, the Moon moves right between the Sun and the Earth. It's like your friend standing in front of a flashlight!

• The Moon is blocking the Sun's light from reaching us.
• It's like when you stand in front of a lamp, you make a shadow.

It doesn't happen all the time because the Moon's path around Earth is tilted, so it usually passes above or below the Sun from our view.

So, the sky gets dark during a solar eclipse because the Moon is playing hide-and-seek with the Sun, and for a little while, it's winning!