  Gaussian aperture pupil masks (GAPMs) can in theory achieve the contrast
requisite for directly imaging an extrasolar planet. We outline the process of
fabricating and testing a GAPM for use on the Penn State near-IR Imager and
Spectrograph (PIRIS) at the Mt. Wilson 100$^{\prime\prime}$ telescope. We find
that the initial prototype observations are quite successful, achieving a
contrast similar to a traditional Lyot coronagraph witho ut blocking any light
from a central object and useful for finding faint companions to nearby young
solar analogues. In the lab we can reproduce the expected PSF to within an
order of magnitude and with new designs achieve $\sim5 \times 10^{-5}$ contrast
at 10$\lambda/D$.
  We find that small inaccuracies in the mask fabrication process and
insufficient correction of the atmosphere contribute the most degradation to
contrast. Finally we compare the performance of GAPMs and Lyot coronagraphs of
similar throughput.
