Ages for large samples of stars - caveats and uncertainties

Abstract

Although a stellar age accuracy of about 10 % seems to be a reasonable requirement to draw a time line in the evolution of our Galaxy as well as in the formation and evolution of exo-planetary systems, theoretical stellar models are at present still too imperfect to really achieve this goal. Asteroseismic observations are definitely of invaluable assistance, especially if individual pulsation frequencies are available, which is still far from common. Large stellar samples are now in the spotlight with two different lines of attack, spectroscopic and photometric surveys as well as asteroseismic missions. I shall review the problems arising from stellar physics in the context of large stellar samples of main sequence and red giant stars, and I shall raise some alarm bells but also highlight some positive news for a drastic improvement in stellar age determinations below the limit of 10 % in a foreseeable future.