SIMBAD references

The lifetime of protoplanetary disks is a crucial parameter for planet formation research. Observations of disk fractions in star clusters imply median disk lifetimes of 1-3 Myr. This very short disk lifetime calls for planet formation to occur extremely rapidly. We show that young, distant clusters (≤5 Myr, >200 pc) often dominate these types of studies. Such clusters frequently suffer from limiting magnitudes leading to an over-representation of high-mass stars. As high-mass stars disperse their disks earlier, the derived disk lifetimes apply best to high-mass stars rather than low-mass stars. Including only nearby clusters (<200 pc) minimizes the effect of limiting magnitude. In this case, the median disk lifetime of low-mass stars is with 5-10 Myr, thus much longer than often claimed. The longer timescales provide planets ample time to form. How high-mass stars form planets so much faster than low-mass stars is the next grand challenges.