An asteroid becomes a meteorite when it travels to Earth from a nearby orbit or the outer solar system and collides with Earth, according to the United States Geological Survey. Small asteroids typically burn up in the upper atmosphere before ever reaching Earth’s surface to become meteorites.

Even the smallest odds of an impact sound alarming, but scientists’ ability to calculate them is actually good news.

Over the next several weeks, astronomers will be looking closely at an asteroid called 2024 YR4 that could be as big as a football field as they try to determine how likely it is to strike Earth in 2032.

A newly discovered asteroid named 2024 YR4 now has a 2.2% chance of affecting Earth in 2032 after recent observations.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The threat of a newly discovered asteroid has risen slightly in the past few weeks, as the world’s telescopes rush to track its course. But the chance of an impact is still quite slim.

Astronomers have upped the odds of an asteroid called 2024 YR4 striking Earth, albeit in 2032, but warn that it will most likely soon be downgraded and miss Earth.

Scientists simulated what would happen if a medium-size asteroid were to strike Earth. One of those space rocks, asteroid Bennu, has a 1-in-2,700 chance of hitting Earth in the year 2182.

YR4 has a roughly 2 percent chance of hitting Earth in 2032, and “is large enough to cause localized damage,” NASA says.