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Hi Programmer,
The 10" provides a 50% increase in light gasp over the 8", but it is heavier, a bit dearer and a bit more cumbersome to move around.
With the 10", the view of the planets you will get will be a bit more detailed in really good seeing and somewhat brighter. The really big improvement will be in observing deep sky stuff because you can see 50% fainter and as a rule of thumb you will see about 50% more objects, and more detail.
If the budget and your back are up to it, and if it fits in your car (assuming you want to take it elsewhere) I think the 10" is the way to go. The focuser you speak of is a very nice one.
As to eyepieces, the two you refer (15mm & 9mm) to are a good start and should serve you well for a time. You will need, pretty much immediately, a long focal length low-power eyepiece (somewhere between 25 and 32mm fl) -- something that provides about a 1 degree field of view for the large clusters, nebulae etc.
As others have advised above, before you star splashing out a lot of money on eyepiece upgrades, wait for a while till you have had a chance to look through some other eyepieces at star-parties and the like, and maybe even had a chance to try them in your 'scope before you consider upgrading. Premium eyepieces will provide a wider, better corrected and sharper view but they come at a premium price too.
Choosing eyepieces (particularly the high-end stuff) is a pretty personal thing and as someone else noted -- lots of different opinions. If you ask say 10 experienced observers, expect at least 3 if not 10 different answers.
On the other hand, there is a special on at the moment on Televue that you might consider. There are lots of other manufacturers that make top-notch gear too.
Whichever way you go, good luck with your first foray into observing with a telescope. Remember, using a telescope is a bit like learning to play a musical instrument. No one expects to pick up an instrument and play it like a pro on night one. Learning to find things in the sky, point the 'scope at it and see all the cool stuff out there is a skill. It can occasionally provide some frustrations and lots of challenges but practice and experience pays off!
It is also a really good idea to join an astronomy club -- help on tap for practically anything telescope related!
Best,
Les Dalrymple
Contributing Editor
AS&T
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