Occultations are difficult to accomplish. The idea is to place the object to be observed directly in front of a calibrated light source - a star, and then watch as the object passes in front of the light. Did it fade in and out indicating an atmosphere? Did it blink in and out suggesting rings? Of course we have no control over the object of interest, or the source, so the only solution is to move the observer.

Planning an occultation is always a last minute affair since the exact path of the objects are not precisely known. The closer you get to the event, the more accurate your calculations become.

It's usually one or two weeks from the event before you know which continent you need to be in, and only days to go before the exact location is known.