Picture gallery: Celestial fireworks

From Mongolia to the Mojave Desert starwatchers were out in force to catch the Leonids meteor storm as it lit up the heavens. These are the pictures:

The Leonids blaze a trail over Joshua trees in Southern California's Mojave Desert. The storm is captured on a 30 minute exposure.

Police said 30,000 people headed for the south of Hong Kong island to watch the display.

Further north the Great Wall also afforded one of the better vantage points.

Mongolians braved temperatures of minius 25 Celsius to watch the phenomenon.

A meteor streaks across the sky above Cape Enrage Lighthouse, New Brunswick Canada.

The shower is nicknamed the Leonids because ancient observers thought the meteors came from the constellation Leo.