An optical system for ultraviolet light having wavelengths .lamda..ltoreq.200 nm, which may be designed in particular as a catadioptric projection objective for microlithography, has a plurality of optical elements including optical elements made of synthetic quartz glass or a fluoride crystal material transparent to a wavelength .lamda..ltoreq.200 nm. At least two of the optical elements are utilized for forming at least one liquid lens group including a first delimiting optical element, a second delimiting optical element, and a liquid lens, which is arranged in an interspace between the first delimiting optical element and the second delimiting optical element and contains a liquid transparent to ultraviolet light having wavelengths .lamda..ltoreq.200 nm. This enables effective correction of chromatic aberrations even in the case of systems that are difficult to correct chromatically.