An objective is configured with a first partial objective and a second partial objective. The first partial objective, which projects a first field plane onto an intermediate image, has a first, convex mirror and a second, concave mirror. The second partial objective, which projects the intermediate image onto a second field plane, has a third and a fourth mirror, both concave. All of the four mirrors have central mirror apertures. The axial distance between the first and second mirrors is in a ratio between 0.95 and 1.05 relative to the distance between the second mirror and the intermediate image. The axial distance ZM3-IM between the third mirror and the second field plane conforms to the relationship 0.03·DuM3+5.0 mm<ZM3-IM<0.25·DuM3tan(arcsin(NA)).NA represents the numerical aperture NA in the second field plane, and DuM3 represents the diameter of the third mirror. The objective furthermore has a Petzval radius with an absolute value larger than the distance between the first and second field planes.