Your 8" telescope is a most adequate instrument. Do not fear
Given your access to really nice, dark skies, you'll enjoy great views of many deep sky objects - not only planets.
There are many ways to go about discovering the night sky's treasures.
Read books.. magazines ('AS&T' and 'Sky and Space'), or get your hands on some affordable planetarium software.
Familiarise yourself with groups of objects, such as the Messier and Caldwell lists.
That should be a good starting point.
Good luck, and enjoy your great scope.
PS - I used to mount my 8" newtonian on a motorised EQ5. It was great.