Source:NE555 Datasheet: **broken link removed**
Due to the nature of the trigger circuitry, the timer will trigger on the negative going edge of the input pulse. For the device to time out properly, it is necessary that the trigger voltage level be returned to some voltage greater than one third of the supply before the time out period. This can be achieved by making either the trigger pulse sufficiently short or by AC coupling into the trigger. By AC coupling the trigger, see Figure 6, a short negative going pulse is achieved when the trigger signal goes to ground. AC coupling is most frequently used in conjunction with a switch or a signal that goes to ground which initiates the timing cycle. Should the trigger be held low, without AC coupling, for a longer duration than the timing cycle the output will remain in a high state for the duration of the low trigger signal, without regard to the threshold comparator state.