Program: GN-2013A-Q-81

In a large fraction (~40%) of nearby early-type galaxies (E/S0) extended disks in which star formation is ongoing or has been taking place in the recent past have been found. The processes leading to this `rejuvenation' of the outer disks of optically quiescent galaxies are still poorly known, and could involve merger activity and/or accretion from the intergalactic medium. I am proposing to study the metallicity (O/H ratio) of HII regions in two of the nearest ($D~10 Mpc) early-type, outer disk galaxies with Gemini/GMOS, in a similar fashion to what the PI has already done in nearby late-type spirals. These observations will help to establish whether `enriched' accretion events can explain the formation and the chemical abundances of extended disks of these early-type systems.