How big are the pendants? Remember that if you put the lights on the island, they would be put in a way to spread the light properly. If you use two pendants, you would need the light to spread out over 4feet to cover the surface. The light spread would also have to overlap each other. Depending on the size of the pendant and the wattage and type of light bulb, it is pretty hard to say with it would be enough with two pendants or three. Also, will you always have auxillary lighting on when you are using the pendants? My first inclination is to say you need 3 pendants but it really depends on the size of the pendants. Good luck!

My island is smaller than yours - a little over 6' x 3' - and I went with three smaller ones. Main reason was function: the sink is in the island and I wanted maximum light on that instead of two lights flanking it. Also, the location of our joists and ceiling ducting dictated that pendants could not be hung perfectly symmetrically, whether we went with two exactly one-third of the way in from each side, or three placed at quarter intervals. Since the island layout is also asymmetrical (big sink flanked by dishwasher on one side and smallish trash pullout on the other), placing three lights slightly asymmetrically mimicked the asymmetry of the island and made the whole feel planned and purposeful. With two, nothing above lined up with what was below. With three, we created the illusion of some symmetry.

@ levy, It is math hon. Second fixture( Home Depot ) Lets assume the attachment uses 5" , the fixture itself is 12 inches, and there are three 12 inch stems and you use one. Add it up. That's 29 inches. Now add the 36 to the counter, and the 36 that IS the counter height. ....101" Ten more inches than you HAVE, floor to ceiling, unless you use no stem at all.. So I would get thee to a Home Depot, and see in person if you are determined to have three, and make sure of total and how you will HANG it. Either find the electrician with a threading tool, or get TWO of the 13" emery......at least you will have a couple 6" rods Here are THE SPECS/INSTALLATION /LINK to Emery https://www.quoizel.com/media/catalog/product/attachments/instruction_sheet/IS-ER1814_30.pdf No......you should not do three of EMERY. NO.no. no. Not even on 85 inches of counter. Look at my photo above. Those are 14" diameter with two over an 84 inch dining table

Yes, because they are solid, and you island is only nine feet long, and because they are EACH 18 inches wide and three will be overwhelming and a visual blocking mass. And because I do this stuff every single day for a living : ) ? and I'd not let you buy a third. And you will HATE three of them? Your inspiration photo isn't lying......that's roughly "nine and a little" feet you are seeing, and I can tell because of the counter chairs. Using just two will be plenty o impact.Here are two, very OPEN and airy on nine feet x 4 feet, and they are 12 inches wide and 14 high. Not the best angle.....but they were plenty I assure you If you are stuck on three..go DOWN in size To "Ziggy" from Arteriors. and do three nine inch x 12 inch Or do the WIDE "ziggy" at 13 inches.........and three ( below)