We have a panoramic view from our Chicago highrise by Lake Michigan and are frequently treated to amazing sky shows. But my wife and I can't recall seeing anything quite like this: a single, broad, perpendicular ray shooting up through the pink sunset afterglow.

First sunset of winter in Chicago.

First sunrise of winter for Chicago. The sun had to rise above a bank of lake effect clouds on the east side of Lake Michigan.

Chicago sunset, November 24, 2024