And noone has mentioned Stellarium yet !!
Tom, nice story and great ambitions backed up with some very useful skills and resources, you will do well.
Get Stellarium, free, on your PC. Fastest way to learn and find your way around the sky and a great tool for finding objects you want to view.
And beware the jabberwock ... the steep slippery slope of Astrophotography. It will frustrate and challenge you and spend all your money. Bi=ut you know that and it won't stop you anyway.
Welcome to the madhouse ...
