The spectral signature of the cooling flow in Abell 478

We present X-ray spectra of Abell 478 taken with the Ginga LAC and with the Einstein SSS. The LAC data set an upper limit of |~ 440\,M_\,yr⁻¹| on the mass deposition rate throughout the whole cluster if a value for the galactic absorption based on 21-cm observations of H I is adopted. The SSS data strongly require an absorbing column density well in excess of that expected by scaling from 21-cm observations of galactic H I. Data from the LAC, SSS and HRI taken together imply a mass deposition rate of about |1000\,M_\,yr⁻¹| with an absorption column density |~ 4.8×10²¹cm⁻².| The excess absorption may be intrinsic to the cooling flow or due to structure in the interstellar medium of the Galaxy on a scale smaller than the grid of 21-cm observations.