UBVRI Photometry of the Type IC SN 1994I in M51

We present optical photometry for the type Ic SN 1994I in M51 (NGC 5194) from UT March 31 to Aug 6, 1994, starting eight days before B-band maximum and ending three months later. We estimate the extinction to SN 1994I was considerable and quite uncertain, A V = 1:4 0:5 mag, making a detailed comparison to other supernovae diicult. Using a distance modulus = 29:6 0:3 mag to M51, we calculate absolute magnitudes and a quasi-bolometric light curve for the supernova. It appears that SN 1994I was less luminous than \normal" type Ia SNe. There is strong evidence that the ejecta of SN 1994I were much less massive than those of other SNe.