There is provided an illumination system for microlithography with wavelengths≦193 nm. The illumination system includes a primary light source, a first optical component, a second optical component, an image plane, and an exit pupil. The first optical component transforms the primary light source into a plurality of secondary light sources that are imaged by the second optical component in the exit pupil. The first optical component includes a first optical element having a plurality of first raster elements that are imaged into the image plane producing a plurality of images being superimposed at least partially on a field in the image plane. The first raster elements that are imaged into the image plane are illuminated almost completely.