A quick check of the Robinson Lunar Observatory website confirmed this was a predicted repeat observation of the Copernicus Sunrise Ray first observed on 4/28/04 by fellow Shallow Sky observer Ted Nichols II.
I made a sketch of my observation of the ray. My sketch looks quite a bit like Ted's 4/28/04 photo here. My observation matches the predicted time frame, and it was visible for a total of about 20 minutesfrom about 3:20 to about 3:40 UT January 9, 2006. This ray is visible every month, check the link and try for it yourselves! Telescope F/7.3 10-inch homemade (in 1988) reflector Stardust, 10mm Zeiss Abbe Ortho 185x. (RUKL 31)