How strong is the gravitational attraction exerted by the sun compared to that of the moon?

The gravitational attraction exerted by the Sun is indeed much stronger than that of the Moon due to its massive size and mass. The Sun accounts for about 99.86% of the total mass of the solar system, dwarfing the mass of the Moon significantly.

The Moon's gravitational attraction does have noticeable effects on Earth, particularly in terms of ocean tides. However, when comparing the overall gravitational forces, the Sun's influence is far greater due to its much larger mass.

Therefore, the correct understanding of solar versus lunar gravitational attraction would find the Sun exerting a gravitational pull significantly stronger than the Moon, especially in the context of their effects on Earth. This makes any option suggesting the Sun's gravitational pull is less than or equal to that of the Moon inaccurate.

In summary, the Sun's gravitational attraction would not be described as less than half that of the Moon; rather, it is vastly stronger, leading to a relationship where the Moon's gravitational attraction pales in comparison to that of the Sun.