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Shaun
The Helix Neb (technically NGC 7293) is fairly large and has moderately low surface brightness. It also is a late riser at this time of year, being only 11deg above the horizon at the moment. At midnight it will be about 35 deg up so will be easier. An 8" should see an oval haze, it is quite large (unlike most PNs) so low power is best at first. Because of the dark centre, it will appear as a sort of ring. If conditions are good and you have a dark sky, the mag 13.5 central star may be getable also.
Some other good PNs to have a crack at are NGC 6302 (the bug nebula in Scorpius), NGC 3918 (the Blue Planetary in Centaurus) which is the brightest of the "southern" PNs, and M57 ( the Ring Nebula or NGC 6720 in Lyra) which is low in the North culminating about midnight.
All three of these exhibit differences in structure and colour which make them interesting objects to start your PN adventure.
Malcolm
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