  Gaussian aperture pupil masks (GAPMs) can in theory achieve the contrast
requisite for directly imaging an extrasolar planet around a nearby solar type
star. We outline the process of designing, fabricating, and testing a GAPM for
use on current telescopes and specifically 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 without 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 reasonably well
and with a single aperture design which achieves $\sim4 \times 10^{-5}$
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 at these levels.
