Hi all. (My apologies if this is the wrong place)

My names Mike and I’m very new to astrophotography. I had an 8in Dopsonian(I think that’s the right name) as a kid but otherwise have little experience with telescopes and even less with photographing what I saw, but I’ve always been obsessed with the night sky. So I’ve just dropped a small fortune on a good (I think) starter rig, based around a Celestron C8, which should be here next week. My biggest interests are how to get the bright vibrant colors in nebulae and galaxies. I’ve been reading a bunch of the posts here and on the web in general to get an idea of what to do but I think I’m at the threshold of what I can figure out on my own. If I understand everything I’ve read (and that’s a stretch), then the two biggest things ill need are filters and software. I got a freeware program (“iris” or something) but couldn’t figure out how to use it with my DSLR, maybe ill have better luck with the CCD when it gets here. Any help, direction, or ideas are greatly appreciated Thanks and clear sky’s.